St Mary’s utility James Box swapping wing duties for defensive instructions

ST MARY’S utility James Box has broken his former club Wanderers’ golden run in NT News Rising Star nominations by winning the Round 5 call-up

St Mary's utility James Box is the Round 5 nomination for the 2019-20 NT News Rising Star. Picture: Liz Cruse/AFLNT Media

ST MARY’S utility James Box has broken his former club Wanderers’ golden run in NT News Rising Star nominations by winning the Round 5 call-up.

The 18-year-old wingman cum small defender was one of his side’s best players in their 26-point win over Wanderers on Saturday.

Lured to the Saints from the Eagles with another hard running wingman in Joseph Salmon, Box was a constant thorn in the side of his old teammates.

First year St Mary’s coach Anthony Vallejo started his young charge on a wing before pushing him back in defence to quell the pacy Eagles forwards.

“We needed his leg speed and decision making down back after he played the opening minutes on a wing with Salmon on the other side,’’ Vallejo said.

“He uses the ball so well when he gets it in his hands and he’s extremely fit so he can run with the opposition small forwards.’’

Box played with Territory Thunder’s under-16 and U18 sides this season where his decision making when in possession was a feature of his game. He can also play up forward in a goalkicking role with his ability to read the play and run into space when the ball is coming through the middle.

This season’s Rising Star will be presented to the football public on the same night the 2019-20 Nichols medallist is announced at Mindil Beach Resort Casino.

First awarded as the Peter Atkinson Rising Star in 1997, the award is in its 23rd season after embracing several outstanding under-21 players in that time.