Who is the best first-year player at your club? We look at the contenders

NOT every one is eligible for the AFL Rising Star, so we’ve looked at your club’s best first-year player. Who will you pick? Have your say!

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti has been a revelation at Essendon.

THE AFL Rising Star is announced on Tuesday.

However, not everyone is eligible to be nominated and for some time there has been a train of thought that a “best first-year player” award would be more suitable.

HAVE YOUR SAY AND PICK YOUR CLUB’S BEST IN THE COMMENTS BELOW

So would you pick rising star nominee Darcy Parish or cult hero Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti? How about Josh Dunkley or Marcus Adams?

We’ve stepped up and named our best.

ADELAIDE CROWS

2016 Rising Star nominations: 0

AFL Debuts: Mitch McGovern, Wayne Milera, Riley O’Brien

Best first-year player: Mitch McGovern

A standout in the Crows’ forward line, who has held his own alongside Taylor Walker, Tom Lynch and Josh Jenkins. Gets the nod over Wayne Milera after playing 21 of 22 games.

BRISBANE LIONS

2016 Rising Star nominations 0

AFL Debuts: Josh Schache, Ben Keays, Rhys Mathieson, Jarrad Jansen, Eric Hipwood, Matt Hammelmann, Reuben William, Archie Smith, Josh Clayton

Best first-year player: Rhys Mathieson

A tough choice with the Lions debuting 10 players this year but for sheer tenacity and a little bit of X-factor it has to be Mathieson. Played 11 games and averaged 18 disposals and four tackles. Schache could count himself unlucky not to score a Rising Star nomination.

Jacob Weitering was everything Carlton hoped for. Picture: George Salpigtidis

CARLTON

2016 Rising Star nominations: Jacob Weitering (Round 3)

AFL Debuts: Jacob Weitering, Charlie Curnow, Jack Silvagni, David Cuningham

Best first-year player: Jacob Weitering

The No.1 draft pick is the standout choice at Carlton and should be spoken about in the same breath as Rising Star favourites Callum Mills and Caleb Daniel. A commanding presence in the Blues’ backline who will be a leader in no time.

COLLINGWOOD

2016 Rising Star nominations: Darcy Moore (19)

AFL Debuts: Matt Goodyear, Mason Cox, Josh Smith, Ben Crocker, Tom Phillips, Rupert Wills

Best first-year player: Josh Smith

Darcy Moore scored the Rising Star nomination but it is the big forward's second season. Instead, we’ve gone for Josh Smith. Played 18 games for the Magpies, averaging 20 disposals after being picked up in the rookie draft.

ESSENDON

2016 Rising Star nominations: Darcy Parish (2), Orazio Fantasia (17)

AFL Debuts: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Darcy Parish, Michael Hartley, Mason Redman, Aaron Francis, Jake Long

Best first-year player: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti

A controversial decision perhaps given Parish’s Rising Star nod but how can you go past “Walla”. Has been a rookie revelation, playing 21 games (Parish played 20), and showing plenty of attacking flair off half-back. Not to forget some bone-crunching hits.

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti holds onto his jumper after a goal. Picture: George Salpigtidis

FREMANTLE

2016 Rising Star nominations: Connor Blakely (11), Lachie Weller (12)

AFL Debuts: Darcy Tucker, Sam Collins, Shane Yarran

Best first-year player: Sam Collins

Both Blakely and Weller are second-year players, which leaves us with Collins. The mature-age recruit out of Box Hill held up a key post in defence in his 12 games under extreme pressure in most games. At least Ross Lyon is actually trying some younger players.

GEELONG

2016 Rising Star nominations: 0

AFL Debuts: Tom Ruggles, Sam Menegola

Best first-year player: Sam Menegola

Ruggles has been a great find for the Cats but Menegola’s story is inspirational. Spent time on Hawthorn and Fremantle’s list without playing a game, went to the WAFL, dominated, and finally got his chance. Six games so far this season and a chance at a premiership.

GOLD COAST SUNS

2016 Rising Star nominations: Peter Wright (15)

AFL Debuts: Callum Ah Chee, Mackenzie Willis, Darcy MacPherson, Jesse Joyce, Josh Schoenfeld, Brayden Fiorini

Best first-year player: Brayden Fiorini

Another big field to chose from and it’s the late bolter who wins it. Fiorini only played the last two games of the season but showed plenty in that time. In Round 23 he amassed 32 disposals, seven marks, five clearances, 12 tackles and two goals.

Brayden Fiorini tackled by Brayden Maynard.

GWS GIANTS

2016 Rising Star nominations: Jacob Hooper (8)

AFL Debuts: Jacob Hopper, Matt Kennedy, Harrison Himmelberg

Best first-year player: Jacob Hopper

Three debuts, three Riverina boys. How long will the Giants keep their talent-rich zone? But back to more important things. Hopper played eight games before injury caught up with him. In that time he averaged 18 disposals and three tackles.

HAWTHORN

2016 Rising Star nominations: James Sicily (13)

AFL Debuts: Marc Pittonet, Kieran Lovell, Kaiden Brand, Kade Stewart, Blake Hardwick, Kurt Heatherley, Ryan Burton

Best first-year player: Kaiden Brand

It’s almost unheard of for a reigning premier to debut seven youngsters. James Sicily picked up a Rising Star nomination but it is his second season. Instead, Brand is the best-first year player after 11 games - including seven straight up from Rounds 16 to 22. A reliable defender who should kick on.

MELBOURNE

2016 Rising Star nominations: Clayton Oliver (1), James Harmes (7), Christian Petracca (9), Oscar McDonald (21)

AFL Debuts: Clayton Oliver, Josh Wagner, Jayden Hunt, Christian Petracca, Sam Weideman

Best first-year player: Christian Petracca

After a knee injury ruined his first year at the club, Petracca exploded after his debut in Round 6 and played every game thereafter. It’s hard to go past Oliver ... but we mean that literally. He’d be a hard bloke to get past on the footy field.

Christian Petracca fires off a handball against Geelong.

NORTH MELBOURNE

2016 Rising Star nominations: Ryan Clarke (18)

AFL Debuts: Corey Wagner, Ryan Clarke

Best first-year player: Ryan Clarke

Ryan Clarke claimed the Kangaroos’ only Rising Star nomination this season and best first-year player honours. Clarke played six games and averaged 17 disposals. Wagner managed four.

PORT ADELAIDE

2016 Rising Star nominations: Darcy Byrne-Jones (10)

AFL Debuts: Dougal Howard, Darcy Byrne-Jones, Logan Austin, Jesse Palmer, Riley Bonner, Will Snelling

Best first-year player: Darcy Byrne-Jones

The Power’s lone Rising Star edges out Logan Austin. “DBJ” showed plenty of attacking flair off half-back in his 20 games, averaging 15 touches. Austin deserves credit for his 11 games, holding down a key defensive post.

RICHMOND

2016 Rising Star nominations: Daniel Rioli (22)

AFL Debuts: Daniel Rioli, Jayden Short, Jason Castagna, Nathan Broad, Adam Marcon, Oleg Markov, Callum Moore

Best first-year player: Daniel Rioli

Short, Castagna and Markov certainly showed a bit. In fact, Markov can consider himself unlucky but Rioli looks an excellent pick by Richmond. The small forward finished with 13 goals in 18 games and an average of three tackles per appearance.

Daniel Rioli takes a contested mark against St Kilda.

ST KILDA

2016 Rising Star nominations: Blake Acres (6), Jade Gresham (14)

AFL Debuts: Jade Gresham, Lewis Pierce, Brandon White

Best first-year player: Jade Gresham

Jade Gresham started slow but caught fire mid-way through the season.

SYDNEY SWANS

2016 Rising Star nominations: Tom Papley (5), Callum Mills (16)

AFL Debuts: Tom Papley, Callum Mills, George Hewett, Aliir Aliir, Jack Hiscox, Harrison Marsh, Jordan Foote

Best first-year player: Callum Mills

The red-hot favourite for the Rising Star, it’s hard to look past Callum Mills. The No.3 draft pick has been assured in defence and more than held his own in the experienced Swans line-up. Aliir Aliir was eligible but didn’t win a nomination, which is a pity, as he pushed premiership defender Ted Richards out with his fine form in defence.

WEST COAST EAGLES

2016 Rising Star nominations: Tom Barrass (23)

AFL Debuts: Tom Cole, Malcolm Karpany

Best first-year player: Tom Cole

Not a whole lot to chose from here, if we’re honest. Tom Cole managed two games, so gets the nod over Karpany, who only played the one. Tom Barrass played three games last season but scored a well-deserved Rising Star nomination in Round 23.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

2016 Rising Star nominations: Caleb Daniel (4), Josh Dunkley (20)

AFL Debuts: Marcus Adams, Josh Dunkley, Kieran Collins, Bailey Williams

Best first-year player: Marcus Adams

Caleb Daniel might be a favourite for the AFL Rising Star but he’s a second-year player. That means Adams, a mature-age defender takes the cake. And he was exactly what the Bulldogs needed. Someone to take on the AFL’s gorillas and provide some attack out of full-back, a la Brian Lake.

Marcus Adams fires off a handball against Collingwod. Picture: Michael Klein