AFL Rising Star 2022: Nominees, past winners, criteria

Buckley, Cousins, Goodes, Riewoldt, Selwood.

It doesn’t have the prestige of some of the game’s other individual honours, but it has marked the beginning of some truly glittering careers.

The NAB Rising Star recognises the talents set to light up the competition for years to come.

Round 6

Jack Ginnivan (Collingwood)

After courting criticism for his exuberant personality earlier in the season, the 19-year-old Magpie small forward kicked five goals and won the ANZAC medal in only his 10th game of AFL football.

Ginnivan showed his class to kick five goals straight also, with an array of goals from outside 50, on the snap and crumbing front and centre.

The teenager has kicked at least a goal in all five of his games this season, while he picked up 21 disposals in the win over Adelaide in round two.

Be sure to capture this 🎥

Give it up for the @NAB AFL Rising Star nominee for round six, @CollingwoodFC‘s Jack Ginnivan 👏 pic.twitter.com/nKktqtE7q2

— AFL (@AFL) April 26, 2022

Round 5

Jai Newcombe (Hawthorn)

The 20-year-old from Poowong has excelled in his second AFL campaign after being picked up in the mid-season draft last year.

After a solid start to 2022, hitting 15-plus disposals in three games, Newcombe has dominated the past two matches, with 23 possessions against the Saints and a career-high 31 in the win versus Geelong.

The inside midfielder looks set to be a key cog in Hawthorn’s rebuild under Sam Mitchell.

Introducing the @NAB AFL Rising Star nominee for round five 🥁

It’s Hawthorn midfielder Jai Newcombe 👏 pic.twitter.com/qoFTApo65s

— AFL (@AFL) April 19, 2022

Round 4

Josh Rachele (Adelaide)

After a blistering start to his AFL career, Rachele is finally rewarded for his performance in the heart-stopping loss to Essendon for his three-goal, nine-mark, 19-touch outing.

The classy forward deserved a round 1 nomination for his five-goal performance, but was nudged out by fellow rookie Nic Martin, who also kicked five in his debut game along with 27 disposals.

Rachele has kicked 10 goals so far this season and looks like being an asset for the Crows for many years to come.

Josh Rachele’s got a @NAB AFL Rising Star nomination on his birthday!

Congratulations to the young Crow on taking out the nomination for round four 🌟 pic.twitter.com/3S79snEVZa

— AFL (@AFL) April 11, 2022

Round 3

Nick Daicos (Collingwood)

He came to the club with plenty of expectations, but Nick Daicos looks every bit the player he was touted to be so far.

The son of club great Peter, the smooth-moving 18-year-old picked up 26 disposals against the Cats, including a very classy finish for his first goal in the AFL.

Averaging 25 touches across his first three games, the Pies’ future looks to be in safe hands.

It was only a matter of time ⚫️⚪️

Congratulations to @CollingwoodFC‘s Nick Daicos, the round three nominee for the 2022 @NAB AFL Rising Star 🌟 pic.twitter.com/opWju2o8i5

— AFL (@AFL) April 4, 2022

Round 2

Jake Bowey (Melbourne)

Melbourne’s Jake Bowey has squeezed plenty into his nine AFL games so far.

The Dees defender has managed to fit two Rising Star nominations, either side of a premiership, in his young AFL career.

Bowey finished with 34 disposals, 24 kicks and nine marks in Melbourne’s win over the Suns in round two.

Nine games, one premiership, two @NAB AFL Rising Star nominations 😈

Congratulations to @melbournefc‘s Jake Bowey, the round two nominee for the 2022 @NAB AFL Rising Star 🌟 pic.twitter.com/y3e5WHJvij

— AFL (@AFL) March 28, 2022

Round 1

Nic Martin (Essendon)

It was a pretty dirty day for Essendon in round one but debutant Nic Martin did more than enough to earn the first Rising Star nomination of the season.

While there were several standout performers around the competition, Martin’s five goals from 10 marks and 27 disposals was the pick of the bunch.

It was a packed field but this Bomber stood above the rest 👏

Congratulations to @essendonfc‘s Nic Martin, the 2022 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee for round one 🌟 pic.twitter.com/ojjY9NEVh5

— AFL (@AFL) March 21, 2022

Rising Star odds

Odds via Sportsbet at 27/4.

What is the Rising Star?

Established in 1993, the Rising Star is awarded to the best young player in the AFL.

Each week, a panel of experts nominates one eligible player across the competition based on their performance in that round or their body of work across the season so far.

At the end of the home-and-away season, the panel votes 5-4-3-2-1 for the young players adjudged to have had the best seasons, with the Rising Star being awarded to the player with the most votes.

The winner is traditionally announced following the final round of the regular season.

Rising Star criteria

Players must be 20 or younger and have played fewer than 10 games at the start of the season.

Like the Brownlow Medal, players who are suspended are ineligible for the award, though they can still be nominated.

Past winners

*Denotes maximum votes