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AFL Rising Star

Award

Award

FieldValue
nameAFL Rising Star
imageFile:AFL Rising Star logo.png
givenforThe best young player in the Australian Football League
sponsorNorwich Union Australia (1993–2000)
Ansett Australia (2001)
National Australia Bank (2002–2022)
Telstra (2023–present)
presenterAustralian Football League
first1993
firstwinnerNathan Buckley (1993)
mostrecentMurphy Reid (2025)
nextawardAugust 2026
url afl.com.au/rising-star

Ansett Australia (2001) National Australia Bank (2002–2022) Telstra (2023–present)

The AFL Rising Star is an Australian rules football award presented annually to the player adjudged the best and fairest young player in the Australian Football League (AFL) for the year. It was first presented in the 1993 season, and was won by Nathan Buckley, playing for the Brisbane Bears. The recipient of the AFL Rising Star has been awarded the Ron Evans Medal since 2007, named in honour of the former AFL Commission chairman following his death that year.

The award was sponsored by Norwich Union Australia from its inception in 1993 until 2000. The AFL then secured a six-year sponsorship deal with Ansett Australia in 2001 that included the Rising Star award; however, this agreement only lasted the one season following the collapse of Ansett in September 2001. National Australia Bank sponsored the award for two decades from 2002 to 2022, marking the longest commercial partnership in the award's history; they were not replaced by any sponsor for the 2023 edition. An equivalent award has existed in the AFL Women's league since its inception in 2017.

The clubs with the most AFL Rising Star awards is , with 4 awards won by players. 's eight nominations in the 2012 season was the most any club has achieved in a season. The most recent recipient of the award is Fremantle's Murphy Reid, winning in 2025.

Eligibility and nominations

A player is nominated for the award each round during the AFL season by a panel of experts. The nominee is usually chosen based on their performance in that particular round; however, for nominations closer to the end of the year, the player's performance over the whole season is taken into consideration. To be eligible for nomination, the player must be under the age of 21 at 1 January that year, and have played ten or fewer AFL games as of the start of the season. A player can only be nominated once per season; if a player is suspended during the season, he may be nominated, but will not be eligible to win the award. At the completion of the regular season, each member of the voting panel independently awards five votes, four votes, three votes, two votes and one vote to the nominated players they regard as the best to fifth-best during the season; the player with the highest total of votes wins the medal.

As the number of voting members varies between seasons, the maximum number of votes a player can poll is not consistent. There have been only four winners who have accumulated the maximum votes in their season: Jared Rivers (2004), Daniel Rich (2009), Dan Hannebery (2010) and Nick Daicos (2022).

It is possible for a player to be nominated in multiple seasons, as long as he still satisfies the age and experience criteria in each year. Sixteen players have been nominated twice for a Rising Star award:

  • Duncan Kellaway (1993 and 1994)
  • Craig Callaghan (1995 and 1996)
  • Michael Braun (1997 and 1998)
  • Luke Power (1998 and 1999)
  • Nathan Jones (2006 and 2007)
  • Mark LeCras (2006 and 2007)
  • Michael Hurley (2009 and 2010)
  • Jordan Gysberts (2010 and 2011)
  • Sam Blease (2011 and 2012)
  • Orazio Fantasia (2015 and 2016)
  • Alex Witherden (2017 and 2018)
  • Lachlan Sholl (2020 and 2021)
  • Mitch Georgiades (2020 and 2021)
  • Luke Jackson (2020 and 2021)
  • Tom Green (2020 and 2021)
  • Justin McInerney (2020 and 2021)
  • Jake Bowey (2021 and 2022)
  • George Wardlaw (2023 and 2024)
  • Nate Caddy (2024 and 2025)

Recipients

A male athlete with light hair wearing a sleeveless guernsey and shorts jogs on the grass surface of the playing arena.
archive-date=25 April 2019}}</ref>
A male athlete with brown hair wearing a sleeveless guernsey and shorts prepares to handball a yellow football.
url-status=live}}</ref>
RecipientYearClubVotesRef.
1993Unknown}}
1994
1995
199615
199727
199830
199933
200033
200131
200234
200333author1=title=Mitchell named 2003 Rising Starurl=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/mitchell-named-2003-rising-star-20030903-gdwaby.htmlaccess-date=25 April 2019work=The Ageagency=Australian Associated Presspublisher=Fairfax Mediadate=3 September 2003archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425080918/https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/mitchell-named-2003-rising-star-20030903-gdwaby.html?js-chunk-not-found-refresh=truearchive-date=25 April 2019location=Melbourneurl-status=live}}
200445^
200543author1=title=Tigers' Deledio wins AFL's rising star awardurl=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-08-31/tigers-deledio-wins-afls-rising-star-award/2093748access-date=25 April 2019work=ABC Newspublisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporationdate=31 August 2005archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929045735/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-08-31/tigers-deledio-wins-afls-rising-star-award/2093748archive-date=29 September 2018url-status=live}}
200643
200744author1=title=Cats' Selwood wins 2007 rising starurl=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-09-05/cats-selwood-wins-2007-rising-star/661124access-date=25 April 2019work=ABC Newspublisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporationdate=5 September 2007archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029002944/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-09-05/cats-selwood-wins-2007-rising-star/661124archive-date=29 October 2016url-status=live}}
200844
200945^
201045^
201144author1=title=Dyson Heppell wins 2011 AFL Rising Star Awardurl=https://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2011-09-07/dyson-heppell-wins-2011-afl-rising-star-awardwebsite=essendonfc.com.aupublisher=Telstra Mediaaccess-date=25 April 2019archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211081626/http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2011-09-07/dyson-heppell-wins-2011-afl-rising-star-awardarchive-date=11 February 2017date=7 September 2011url-status=live}}
201243last1=Holmesbyfirst1=Lukelast2=Twomeyfirst2=Callumtitle=Talia claims Rising Starurl=https://www.afl.com.au/news/2012-09-05/talia-claims-rising-starwebsite=AFL.com.aupublisher=BigPondaccess-date=25 April 2019archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723130030/http://www.afl.com.au/news/2012-09-05/talia-claims-rising-stararchive-date=23 July 2015date=5 September 2012url-status=live}}
201344
201439author1=title=Brisbane's Lewis Taylor wins AFL Rising Star Awardurl=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-03/brisbane27s-lewis-taylor-wins-afl-rising-star-award/5716856access-date=25 April 2019work=ABC Newsagency=Australian Associated Presspublisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporationdate=3 September 2014archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101012940/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-03/brisbane27s-lewis-taylor-wins-afl-rising-star-award/5716856archive-date=1 November 2016url-status=live}}
201549author1=title=Melbourne's Jesse Hogan wins AFL Rising Star awardurl=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/sep/09/melbournes-jesse-hogan-wins-afl-rising-star-awardaccess-date=25 April 2019work=Guardian Australiaagency=Australian Associated Presspublisher=Guardian Media Groupdate=9 September 2015archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151230024805/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/sep/09/melbournes-jesse-hogan-wins-afl-rising-star-awardarchive-date=30 December 2015url-status=live}}
201649last1=Lanefirst1=Samanthaauthor-link1=Samantha Lanetitle=Callum Mills wins 2016 AFL Rising Star awardurl=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/callum-mills-wins-2016-afl-rising-star-award-20160906-gr9p07.html?js-chunk-not-found-refresh=trueaccess-date=25 April 2019work=The Agepublisher=Fairfax Mediadate=6 September 2016archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425071542/https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/callum-mills-wins-2016-afl-rising-star-award-20160906-gr9p07.html?js-chunk-not-found-refresh=truearchive-date=25 April 2019location=Melbourneurl-status=live}}
2017Essendon51author1=date=1 September 2017title=Essendon's Andrew McGrath wins AFL's Rising Star awardwork=ABC Newspublisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporationagency=Australian Associated Pressurl=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-01/essendons-andrew-mc-grath-wins-rising-star-award/8863846url-status=liveaccess-date=25 April 2019archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209104703/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-01/essendons-andrew-mc-grath-wins-rising-star-award/8863846archive-date=9 February 2018}}
201852last1=Guthriefirst1=Bentitle=Pie rises high: Stephenson the NAB AFL Rising Starurl=https://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-08-31/pie-rises-high-stephenson-the-nab-afl-rising-starwebsite=AFL.com.aupublisher=Telstra Mediaaccess-date=25 April 2019archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321060653/https://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-08-31/pie-rises-high-stephenson-the-nab-afl-rising-stararchive-date=21 March 2019date=31 August 2018url-status=live}}
201954
202048last=Twomeyfirst=Callumdate=24 September 2020title=A Rising Star is born: Serong almost perfect, gun Sun runner-upurl=https://www.afl.com.au/news/510582/a-rising-star-is-born-serong-almost-perfect-gun-sun-runner-upaccess-date=24 September 2020website=AFL.com.aupublisher=Telstra Mediaarchive-date=3 October 2020archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003013712/https://www.afl.com.au/news/510582/a-rising-star-is-born-serong-almost-perfect-gun-sun-runner-upurl-status=live }}
202151
202260^
202354date=2023-08-30title=North Melbourne's Harry Sheezel crowned the 2023 AFL Rising Starurl=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1020652/north-melbournes-harry-sheezel-crowned-the-2023-afl-rising-staraccess-date=2023-09-11website=AFL.com.aulanguage=enarchive-date=5 September 2023archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905204113/https://www.afl.com.au/news/1020652/north-melbournes-harry-sheezel-crowned-the-2023-afl-rising-starurl-status=live }}
202452url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1207177/full-votes-geelong-cats-youngster-ollie-dempsey-wins-ron-evans-medal-as-2024-telstra-rising-startitle=FULL VOTES: Young Cat storms to Rising Star winwebsite=AFL.com.aupublisher=Telstra Medialast=Smithfirst=Martinaccess-date=29 August 2024date=29 August 2024}}
202548

Club totals

ClubTotalYears
4, 2025
3
3,
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
0—
0—
0—

Notes

References

References

  1. "NAB AFL Rising Star - History". [[Telstra]].
  2. (31 March 2001). "AFL tips doubling of sponsor income". [[Fairfax Media]].
  3. (15 September 2001). "Airline crisis hits finals and sponsor deals". Fairfax Media.
  4. (3 August 2002). "AFL banks on rising star millions to plug the sponsorship hole". Fairfax Media.
  5. (13 March 2014). "NAB Rising Star program launched". [[AFL NSW/ACT]].
  6. (2023-03-14). "Eligible players for the 2023 AFL Rising Star Award and All-Australian Selection Panel announced".
  7. (28 March 2017). "Crows teenager Ebony Marinoff named AFLW Rising Star". Telstra Media.
  8. (21 June 2017). "Carlton aiming for Rising Star history". [[Southern Cross Austereo]].
  9. (2025-09-22). "Reid a Rising Star!".
  10. (29 April 2015). "Who is eligible for the NAB AFL Rising Star award?". Telstra Media.
  11. (16 September 2020). "'Absolute joke': Crows lead charge over 'almighty snub' - but here's why he was overlooked". [[News Corp Australia]].
  12. (25 November 2014). "No more demerit points as AFL aims for simpler MRP". Telstra Media.
  13. (4 September 2012). "Toby Greene to miss out as Giants rue luck". [[News Corp Australia.
  14. (1 September 2017). "The full judges voting for the 2017 NAB Rising Star". Southern Cross Austereo.
  15. (2 September 2009). "Rich wins rising star". BigPond.
  16. (1 September 2010). "Swan Hannebery wins Rising Star Award". Fairfax Media.
  17. (21 May 2018). "Lion joins dual Rising Star nom club". Telstra Media.
  18. Hobbs, Greg. (1993-09-11). "Norwich Rising Star: Nathan Buckley". [[AFL Record.
  19. (2002-09-18). "Prophecy comes true as Riewoldt named new star". Fairfax Media.
  20. (4 September 2013). "O'Meara named Rising Star". Telstra Media.
  21. Browne, Ashley. (1994-09-14). "AFL's rising star award goes to Brisbane rookie". [[The Age]].
  22. Browne, Ashley. (1995-09-14). "Hawks to offer Holland one year". [[The Age]].
  23. (1996-09-11). "Award confirms a teenager's class and loyalty". [[The Age]].
  24. (1997-09-10). "Port youngster grabs rising star award". [[The Age]].
  25. (1998-09-09). "Roo rises from the pack to win award". [[Newcastle Herald]].
  26. Blake, Martin. (1999-08-09). "Goodes named Rising Star". [[The Age]].
  27. Niall, Jake. (2000-08-16). "Hasleby is king of the kids". [[The Age]].
  28. Poulter, Geoff. (2001-09-12). "Young Saint makes splash". [[Herald Sun]].
  29. (3 September 2003). "Mitchell named 2003 Rising Star". Fairfax Media.
  30. (2004-09-02). "Rivers wins Rising Star award".
  31. (31 August 2005). "Tigers' Deledio wins AFL's rising star award". [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]].
  32. (2006-09-06). "Power's Pearce scoops rising star award".
  33. (5 September 2007). "Cats' Selwood wins 2007 rising star". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  34. (2008-09-03). "Palmer claims Rising Star". [[ABC News (Australia).
  35. (7 September 2011). "Dyson Heppell wins 2011 AFL Rising Star Award". Telstra Media.
  36. (5 September 2012). "Talia claims Rising Star". [[Telstra Media.
  37. (3 September 2014). "Brisbane's Lewis Taylor wins AFL Rising Star Award". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  38. (9 September 2015). "Melbourne's Jesse Hogan wins AFL Rising Star award". [[Guardian Media Group]].
  39. (6 September 2016). "Callum Mills wins 2016 AFL Rising Star award". Fairfax Media.
  40. (1 September 2017). "Essendon's Andrew McGrath wins AFL's Rising Star award". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  41. (31 August 2018). "Pie rises high: Stephenson the NAB AFL Rising Star". Telstra Media.
  42. Beveridge, Riley. (30 August 2019). "Blue jet wins Rising Star award, but it's not unanimous". Telstra Media.
  43. Twomey, Callum. (24 September 2020). "A Rising Star is born: Serong almost perfect, gun Sun runner-up". Telstra Media.
  44. Twomey, Callum. (15 September 2021). "Action Jackson: Young Demon crowned Rising Star". Telstra Media.
  45. Twomey, Callum. (24 August 2022). "Inside the rapid ascent of the 'unmatched' Rising Star". Telstra Media.
  46. (2023-08-30). "North Melbourne's Harry Sheezel crowned the 2023 AFL Rising Star".
  47. Smith, Martin. (29 August 2024). "FULL VOTES: Young Cat storms to Rising Star win". Telstra Media.
  48. Schmook, Nathan. (22 September 2025). "Full votes: Dockers young gun caps brilliant year with Rising Star win".
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