Carlton defender Caleb Marchbank nominated for AFL Rising Star award

CARLTON came close with Patrick Cripps and Jacob Weitering and they have the third-favourite for the 2017 Rising Star award after Caleb Marchbank won the Round 6 nomination.

Caleb Marchbank of the Blues.

RISING Star Caleb Marchbank says a pep talk by Carlton’s leadership group helped inspire Saturday’s shock win against Sydney.

And the Round 6 nominee revealed this week’s clash against arch rival Collingwood was a key reason he chose to sign at the Blues after two seasons with Greater Western Sydney.

Marchbank, 20, has been a shining light this season and is third favourite to deliver Carlton its first ever Rising Star winner.

But the defender backed classy teammate Sam Petrevski-Seton as a contender for this year’s prize once he earns a nomination.

Star midfielder Patrick Cripps was runner-up in 2015 while No. 1 pick Jacob Weitering placed third last year.

Marchbank has shown his flexibility, negating Cale Hooker, Justin Westhoff, Gary Rohan and Ben Griffiths this season.

The Benalla boy’s final game for the Giants was Round 2 last year as he battled homesickness.

The Blues wanted to draft Marchbank in 2014 but the Giants swooped at No.7.

They tracked his progress closely and beat St Kilda to his signature last October, also landing No.4 pick Jarrod Pickett in the same bargain trade.

Caleb Marchbank says Carlton’s leaders stayed positive after their big loss to Port Adelaide.

Port Adelaide thumped the Blues by 90 points under the Friday night lights in Round 5 before captain Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs had an honest chat with the list.

“The boys in the leadership group, they drove the standards,” Marchbank said.

“That effect went through the whole playing group and it was a really good win.

“We went through our game on the Friday against Port.

“The leaders sat the playing group down and said there were some things we didn’t do so great, but they also highlighted the things we did do well.

“They said stay confident, believe in yourself — that was the main thing.”

Marchbank grew up supporting North Melbourne but loved the game’s traditional blockbusters.

“To be honest I’m really looking forward to (Saturday’s game against Collingwood),” he said.

“It’s a classic rivalry and one of the things that got me thinking about wanting to come to Carlton was the classic rivalries they’ve got.

“I used to watch them as a kid and you see 80-90,000 at the ’G on a Saturday afternoon, I don’t think there’s a better place to be.

“I’m really looking forward to the atmosphere and a real strong contest.”

Three of Marchbank’s seven games at GWS were played in front of 10,000 people. His first game at the Blues was the season-opener against Richmond witnessed by 73,137.

The country boy is also enjoying advice from Blues list boss and full-back great Stephen Silvagni.

“I had a fair bit of homesickness and wanted to be closer to my family and friends,” Marchbank said of his trade request.

“I’m two hours away from Benalla and I try and get to Benalla every couple of weeks.”