Adelaide’s Tom Doedee finishes runner-up to Collingwood’s Jaidyn Stephenson in AFL Rising Star award
TOM Doedee didn’t quite reach the heights of his Crows backline mentor Daniel Talia but he went close, finishing runner-up in the AFL Rising Star award.
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TOM Doedee didn’t quite reach the heights of his Crows backline mentor Daniel Talia but he went close.
The 21-year-old on Friday became just the third Adelaide player to finish in the top two of the AFL Rising Star award after being pipped only by Collingwood forward sensation Jaidyn Stephenson.
Doedee — in his third year on the Crows list but first season of AFL football after debuting in round one — polled 42 votes to fall 10 short of Stephenson, who was the standout player, playing all 22 games and kicking 34 goals.
Brisbane playmaking defender Alex Witherden was third, with 32 votes.
Talia is the only Crow to win the Rising Star, romping away with the 2012 award.
Fellow Adelaide defender Andy Otten was runner-up in 2009.
After biding his time in the SANFL for two seasons after being a shock first-round pick by the Crows at No. 17 at the 2015 national draft, Victorian Doedee enjoyed an outstanding year.
Taking over departed Jake Lever’s intercept defender’s role, 188cm Doedee averaged 18 disposals and 2.2 intercept marks before breaking his collarbone against North Melbourne in round 22 and missing the final round against Carlton.
He also missed the round 19 clash against Melbourne through concussion.
Doedee — a former State junior basketballer who was a late starter to football — described his breakout year as “pleasing’’.
“I was elated to debut in round one (against Essendon) and then just kept taking it one week at a time with the plan to play good footy so they couldn’t drop me,’’ he said.
“It was a pleasing year for me but it was a disappointing one for the team because we feel we are better than where we finished (12th).’’
Doedee still has his left arm in a sling after breaking his collarbone two weeks ago but he said he would be ready for the start of Adelaide’s pre-season training in November.
“The surgery went to plan, so all good (from that point of view),” he said.
“I can’t really run with the sling on but I should be able to get back to doing some fitness stuff soon enough.”
Stephenson became the first Collingwood player to win the Ron Evans Medal as the Rising Star.
The 19-year-old was drafted at pick six at last year's national draft after some clubs took him off their draft boards because of concerns over a heart condition and his 34 goals were 11 more than the next-highest return for a player eligible for the award, Sydney’s Ben Ronke (23).
RISING STAR VOTES
52 — Jaidyn Stephenson (Coll)
42 — Tom Doedee (Adel)
32 — Alex Witherden (Bris)
11 — Jack Higgins (Rich)
10 — Jack Henry (Geel), Ollie Florent (Syd)
4 — Cameron Rayner (Bris)
2 — Ben Ronke (Syd)
1 — Aaron Francis (Ess), Ed Richards (WB)