AFL Rising Star 2021: Who is vying for final three nominations

A clear pair of frontrunners have emerged for the Rising Star award. But with three rounds left, there’s still time for a number of contenders to earn a nomination.

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is yet to earn a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination. Picture: Michael Klein

Six of the top 10 favourites for the NAB AFL Rising Star award at the start of the season are yet to win a nomination as a clear pair of frontrunners for the title consolidate their spots.

GWS midfielder Tom Green sits as a $2.10 favourite for the award with TAB, just ahead of Melbourne forward-ruckman Luke Jackson at $3.25.

Green had only 11 disposals against Port Adelaide last weekend, but is averaging 20.5 touches this year.

In his second season, Green won a second Rising Star nomination in Round 9 after being one of the early favourites for the award at odds of $9 at the start of the season.

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However, a host of other early-season favourites are not even in contention, having been yet to secure a nomination.

Here are eight young stars who have been overlooked so far but could put themselves in the mix with a big performance over the final three rounds of the season.

Will Phillips (North Melbourne)

13 games, Ave. 43 KFC SuperCoach points

The Kangaroos have been very impressed with how last year’s No.3 draft pick has been developing. Phillips has been used as medical substitute on multiple occasions and has played limited game time across his 12 matches. That has contributed to Phillips averaging just 10 disposals a game. However, he is clearly a talented player with good football smarts and is having an increasing impact on matches.

Will Phillips is finding his feet at AFL level. Picture: Michael Klein

Miles Bergman (Port Adelaide)

18 games, Ave. 54 KFC SuperCoach points

The Power wingman is in his second season on the list but only made his debut in Round 1 this year. Since then, he has missed only one game in a strong Port Adelaide side, which is no mean feat. The No.14 pick in the 2019 national draft, Bergman has averaged 12.9 disposals and 196 metres gained this season. The 19-year-old rarely wastes the ball by foot, going at a kicking efficiency of 71.2 per cent.

Miles Bergman has cemented himself in Port Adelaide’s best 22.

Matt Rowell (Gold Coast Suns)

9 games, Ave. 65 KFC SuperCoach points

The No.1 draft pick in 2019, Rowell was a clear Rising Star favourite in the early rounds last season as he dominated his first four AFL games before being struck down by a season-ending shoulder injury. That meant he played only five games for the season, rendering Rowell eligible for the Rising Star again in 2021. However, the Suns midfielder suffered a bad knee injury in Round 1 which sidelined him for 10 games. He has returned to play the past eight games, but hasn’t had quite been the same player, outside of a couple of strong performances. He has improved as the season has gone on, though.

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Western Bulldogs)

4 games, Ave. 50 KFC SuperCoach points

Last year’s No.1 draft pick, Ugle-Hagan made his debut in only Round 17 after fitness, form and injury issues across the first half of the season. The forward, who has been likened to Sydney superstar Lance Franklin, had a quiet debut but kicked three goals in his second game and has retained his spot and kicked goals in the two games since. As long as Ugle-Hagan does not play every game for the rest of the season — or the ladder-leading Bulldogs win their way straight through to a preliminary final — he will be eligible for the Rising Star award again next year. But he could well see a nomination for this year’s award before the season is out.

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s debut was worth the wait.

Trent Bianco (Collingwood)

9 games, Ave. 56 KFC SuperCoach points

Selected at pick 45 in the 2019 draft, the Magpies forward debuted in only Round 11 this season but has not missed a game since. Bianco is averaging 13.3 disposals this season and has kicked goals in each of his past three games, including two majors against West Coast in Round 20.

Josh Treacy (Fremantle)

12 games, Ave. 44 KFC SuperCoach points

An emerging key forward, Treacy has become known as ‘The Big Cohuna’, in reference to hometown of Cohuna in northern Victoria. A rookie draft selection last December, the 193cm big man made his debut in Round 4 and has progressively improved as the year has gone on. Treacy has kicked 10 goals this season, including a season-high haul of three majors against the Western Bulldogs in Round 12.

Carlton’s Liam Stocker has been solid in defence this season. Picture: Getty Images

Liam Stocker (Carlton)

14 games, Ave. 55 KFC SuperCoach points

A pick No.19 in the 2018 national draft, Stocker was drafted as a midfielder but has morphed into a new role as a defender this year. The 21-year-old has had some big jobs on opposition small forwards this season and has generally been solid while also still winning a bit of his own ball. He is averaging 13.2 disposals, 3.5 marks and 263 metres gained.

Ryan Byrnes (St Kilda)

13 games, Ave. 59 KFC SuperCoach points

A midfielder-forward, Byrnes was a lowly pick 52 in the 2019 national draft and played only one game on debut in 2020 but has stepped up nicely this season. He came into the Saints side in Round 7 and has played every game since, averaging 16.5 disposals, five marks and 227 metres gained.

TAB Rising Star Odds after Round 1

$3 Errol Gulden (Syd)

$5 Braeden Campbell (Syd)

$7 Logan McDonald (Syd)

$9 Matt Rowell (GC)

$9 Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (WB)

$9 Tom Green (GWS)

$11 Tom Powell (NM)

$11 Hayden Young (Fre)

$13 Will Phillips (NM)

$13 Lachlan Sholl (Ade)

$15 Riley Thilthorpe (Ade)

$17 Elijah Hollands (GC)

$21 Luke Jackson (Mel)

TAB Rising Star Odds after Round 20

$2.10 Tom Green (GWS)

$3.25 Luke Jackson (Mel)

$11 Mitch Georgiades (PA)

$15 James Jordon (Mel)

$15 Justin McInerney (Syd)

$21 Errol Gulden (Syd)

$26 Nik Cox (Ess)

$26 Cody Weightman (WB)

$34 Archie Perkins (Ess)

2021 AFL NAB Rising Star Nominations

R1 — Errol Gulden (Syd)

R2 — Braeden Campbell (Syd)

R3 — Chad Warner (Syd)

R4 — Lachlan Sholl (Ade)

R5 — Mitch Georgiades (PA)

R6 — Jacob Koschitzke (Haw)

R7 — Luke Jackson (Mel)

R8 — James Jordon (Mel)

R9 — Tom Green (GWS)

R10 — Cody Weightman (WB)

R11 — Trent Rivers (Mel)

R12 — Nikolas Cox (Ess)

R13 — Riley Thilthorpe (Ade)

R14 — Harrison Jones (Ess)

R15 — Deven Robertson (Bris)

R16 — Justin McInerney (Syd)

R17 — Archie Perkins (Ess)

R18 — Jeremy Sharp (GC)

R19 — Harry Schoenberg (Ade)

R20 — Hayden Young (Fre)