AFL Rising Star: Which young guns still need a nomination in 2022?

Who is missing a Rising Star nomination in 2022? And what is the biggest snub of all? See all the important stats for this year’s crop.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has been left scratching his head over what appears to have been a snub.

Key defenders are notoriously overlooked in all individual awards in the AFL, but those at Punt Rd have been left a tad bemused that Josh Gibcus is still yet to receive a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination this year.

Asked after the Tigers’ win over Carlton in Round 14 if he was surprised that Gibcus had been so far overlooked for a Rising Star nomination, Hardwick wasn’t.

“Not really. He plays for the Tigers,” Hardwick said with a laugh as he literally scratched his head.

“I think he’s a wonderful player. Those key backs, you look how challenging it is. He’s 18 years of age. He’s getting the big jobs every week as well, which is really, really important. He’s getting beaten every now and then but he’s going to learn some lessons. You can play 50 games at VFL level but you play one game on Charlie Curnow or Harry McKay and you’re going to learn a hell of a lot. He’s been a revelation. He’s only going to get better, get stronger, get a greater understanding of the game. We really love what he’s bringing.”

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Josh Gibcus is yet to win a Rising Star nomination. Picture: Michael Klein

Like all young players, Gibcus has made a few notable mistakes this year.

However, the first-year defender has played 13 of a possible 15 games in a team that is positioned in the top-eight.

The Greater Western Victoria Rebels product — who was taken at pick 9 in last year’s draft — is averaging 10 disposals, four marks and 5.8 spoils.

He has also been swung forward for short periods and has impacted on each occasion by kicking three goals.

Hardwick’s suggestion that Richmond players are regularly overlooked for Rising Star nominations is backed by history.

The Tigers’ last Rising Star nominee was Shai Bolton in Round 17, 2019.

Since then there have been 63 other nominations — none of which have been Richmond players.

The 17 other clubs have all received at least one nomination since Round 18, 2019.

In fact, AFL golden child the Gold Coast Suns has had seven different players nominated during that period.

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is waiting on a nomination. Picture: Michael Klein

Gibcus is not the only potential Rising Star at Richmond this year.

The dashing Hugo Ralphsmith — who has played 10 games and has averaged 14.7 disposals — is also eligible for a nomination, as is livewire small forward Maurice Rioli.

Rioli has kicked two or more goals on three occasions this year and ranks elite for forward 50 pressure across his eight matches so far this season.

The Rising Star race looks run and won, with Collingwood’s Nick Daicos a clear favourite to be crowed the 2022 winner.

However, Gibcus has surely done enough to earn a nomination by season’s end as a small piece of recognition for an impressive debut season.

BEER DELIVERY TO THE MCG: CHANGE BEHIND MARVEL’S RISE

Six weeks ago Massimo D’Ambrosio was a part-time alcohol delivery driver who was also juggling a construction management course at university and playing VFL football on the weekends in front of a few hundred fans.

He’s now a full-time AFL footballer who starred for Essendon in front of 43,163 fans at the MCG last Saturday to nab himself a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination in just his third senior game.

D’Ambrosio describes the past six weeks as a “crazy” time, with his university course on hold and his part-time job going out the window after he was selected at pick 3 in the AFL mid-season rookie draft.

Massimo D'Ambrosio has made an impressive start to his AFL career at Essendon. Picture: Getty Images

But the 19-year-old has taken it all in his stride on the back of a fresh mindset this year.

Bogged down by a tendency to put too much pressure on himself last season, D’Ambrosio has changed tune to bring the fun back into his footy.

It was a strategy that was first discussed with Western Jets coach Robbie Chancellor after D’Ambrosio missed selection in last year’s draft and has since delivered results that have been clear to see.

“I had my exit interview with a couple of my coaches and they looked at things that I could do better to try and get myself in a position where I could play AFL football and get all this,” D’Ambrosio said.

“I had a lot of self-expectation, which I still do now, but just not as much. Now it’s more just going out there having fun and the expectation is to just smile and get everyone else up and about. So that’s something I’ve been working on and hopefully you can just keep doing that.”

Massimo D’Ambrosio had 23 disposals and six marks in a Round 16 win over Sydney. Picture: Getty Images

A rebounding halfback, D’Ambrosio has averaged 17.3 disposals and 4.3 marks across his first three AFL games.

His Rising Star nomination came on the back of 23 disposals and six marks in a win over Sydney.

“It’s definitely a step up from VFL level,” he said.

“There’s more speed on the game and just all the little structural things that you learn. But the backline group have really taken me under their wing and shown me the ropes around the club and what it takes to be an AFL footballer.”

D’Ambrosio is currently only contracted until the end of the year, but is putting his best foot forward to continue his career.

“If I could play every game from here onwards, for the rest of the year, that’d be great,” he said.

“But I just want to keep improving and getting better every game.”

Originally published as AFL Rising Star: Which young guns still need a nomination in 2022?