AFL 2023: Sydney Swans young gun Angus Sheldrick earns Round 15 Rising Star nomination

Angus Sheldrick can’t remember having more fun on the field than he did against the Eagles – and he’s earnt a Rising Star nomination as a result. But things aren’t always that easy.

Sydney’s next teenage midfield gun Angus Sheldrick is the round 15 Rising Star nominee. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Not too many players can say they’ve been part of a 200-point game and for Sydney midfielder Angus Sheldrick, it’s a day that will live long in the memory.

“That’s the biggest score I’ve ever been a part of … it was one of the most fun games I’ve ever been a part of,” Sheldrick said.

“I felt the whole team had a clear focus and we kept playing to our game plan and it kept rewarding us. The score was never mentioned.”

The 19-year-old produced the best performance of his young career against the Eagles in just his seventh match, finishing with a goal, 29 touches and four tackles as the Swans ran away with a record 171-point victory.

It earned Sheldrick the round 15 Rising Star nomination, continuing an incredible three-week stretch for him in the AFL.

Sheldrick found plenty of space up against West Coast’s lacklustre defence. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Sydney co-captain Callum Mills was the last Swans player to win the Rising Star in 2016, with Dan Hannebery (2010) and Adam Goodes (1999) also on the list.

However, it’s a testament to the calibre of their young midfield that Sheldrick is far from alone when it comes to being nominated.

In the past four years, Nick Blakey, Justin McInerney, Errol Gulden, Braeden Campbell and Chad Warner have all been up for the award.

“It’s a young team and a lot of good players,” he said.

“They’re probably more experienced than they should be for their age which is helping us. Hopefully, we can all play well for the back end of the year.”

It is also further recognition of the work of Claremont in the WAFL with Sheldrick and his 2021 Colts teammate, Melbourne forward Jacob van Rooyen, both nominated for the award in the space of a month.

“I was happy for him when I saw it happen,” Sheldrick said.

“We played together in Colts that year, we get picked after each other (in the Draft), now this, it’s funny how it all works.”

The 19-year-old is never one to shy away from contact. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Sheldrick has shown his potential in the past three weeks since being given a more on-ball role by coach John Longmire.

He has impressed with his willingness to go into contact, much like his idol, Hawthorn legend Luke Hodge.

But the challenge is going to be even greater this Friday when the Swans take on Geelong, a team they have lost to by a combined 174 points in their past two meetings.

“You have to take the opportunities in AFL footy, that’s the biggest thing I’ve learned,” Sheldrick said.

“When you get the ball, you’ve probably got a second less to think about what you’re going to do.

“We’ll take a lot of confidence out of how we just played. The standard is going to be very different against Geelong, we’re not oblivious to that either.

“We’ll be ready to have a crack.”