Port Adelaide young gun Connor Rozee has kicked 14 goals already this season, the most of any rookie. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
The race for this season’s Rising Star award is not as clear cut as what it may have originally seemed, with a number of contenders emerging.
Carlton’s Sam Walsh seemed like a shoo-in to win the coveted rookie award during the early stages of the season. Showing great poise, an ability to find the footy and maturity beyond his years, Walsh is the whole package for a young midfielder.
The 18-year old is averaging 24.6 disposals, 5.1 marks and 3.9 clearances per game, producing some of the best numbers we have ever seen from a rookie.
It seems like the only thing that could get in between Walsh and the Rising Star is an injury, but there are certainly a handful of other youngsters who have bridged the gap in recent weeks.
Port Adelaide’s Connor Rozee is an absolute beauty and many have him ahead of Walsh in the pecking order. While that may be a little extreme, this kid can seriously play.
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Rozee is averaging 16.1 disposals and 4.2 tackles per game and has booted 14 goals for the season, the most of any rookie this season.
When you talk about X-factor, impact and performance contributing to wins, you’re talking about Rozee. He has all the tools to become a genuine star of the AFL, and he probably isn’t trailing Walsh in the Rising Star race by as much as the bookies are making out. Plus, Rozee fits the mould of last year’s winner, Collingwood’s Jaidyn Stephenson.
Richmond’s Sydney Stack is another who has seen his stock seriously rise in recent weeks. This kid came into the Tigers side when they were crippled with injuries but has done more than enough to cement his spot in the 22.
Stack is averaging 16.5 disposals, six marks and ranks third among rookies in intercepts. He has that something special about him when he gets the ball and is brutally tenacious without it.
If Stack continues to build form and Walsh and Rozee plateau, the Western Australian could emerge as this season’s premier rookie.
A “smokey” to win the award, meanwhile, is Geelong’s Gryan Miers, who has come from nowhere to have a serious impact for the top-of-the-table Cats.
Miers tackles, applies pressure, kicks goals, sets up his teammates and has great disposal – there isn’t much that he can’t do. Benefiting from playing in a good system, Miers has barely put in a bad performance. If he has a four of five-goal outing one of these weeks, Miers could seriously join the Rising Star conversation, as he isn’t far behind it.
