Christian Petracca favourite to win 2016 AFL Rising Star award

AN EXPLOSIVE Melbourne midfielder is the early favourite for next year’s Rising Star award — and it’s not Clayton Oliver.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 09: Christian Petracca of the Demons marks during a Melbourne Demons AFL pre-season training session at Gosch's Paddock on November 9, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE midfielder Christian Petracca is the early favourite for next year’s Rising Star award.

TAB has released its first market for the award after this week’s national draft, with high picks featuring heavily.

But Petracca, who was taken at pick 2 in the 2014 draft, is at the top line of betting at $8.

The explosive midfielder failed to play a game in 2015 after injuring his knee, but he has joined the Demons squad for pre-season training.

Second-favourite is Collingwood forward Darcy Moore, who played nine games this year but remains eligible for the award — just.

To qualify, a player must be younger than 21 at January 1 next year and have played 10 or fewer games.

That leaves the door open for players who already have a taste of AFL action including Bomber Jayden Laverde, Bulldog Toby McLean and Saint Paddy McCartin.

This year’s No. 1 draft pick Jacob Weitering is $15 in early betting, just ahead of NSW academy guns Callum Mills and Jacob Hopper, and draft bolter — and new Melbourne teammate — Clayton Oliver.

“It’s a big ask for Petracca to not only come back from his knee injury, but to actually be the best young player next year. But the market suggests he will clearly be the one to beat given how highly rated he was before the injury,” said TAB’s Nick Quinn.

2016 RISING STAR WINNER

$8 Christian Petracca

$11 Darcy Moore

$15 Jacob Weitering

$17 Jacob Hooper, Callum Mills, Clayton Oliver

$21 Trent Dumont, Jayden Laverde, Darcy Parish

$26 Matthew Kennedy, Jake Kolodjashnij, Toby McLean

$34 Caleb Daniel, Orazio Fantasia, Aaron Francis, Rhys Mathieson, Paddy McCartin, Jack Steele

$51 Riley Bonner, Charlie Curnow, Nathan Freedman, Ben Keays, Wayne Milera, Josh Schache, Lukas Webb

Odds: tab.com.au

Originally published as Christian Petracca favourite to win 2016 AFL Rising Star award