The AFL Rising Star Award is given out at the conclusion of the AFL home and away season to the talented youngster deemed to have had the most impact.
It is a popular category to bet on, with many players going on to become household names having won it. Geelong Cats’ Oliver Dempsey took out the 2024 AFL Rising Star gong, but which young gun will win it in 2025?
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What is the Rising Star Award?
For those who don’t know, the Ron Evans Medal for the Rising Star is awarded to the best young talent in the Australian Football League. One nomination is handed out each week to whomever was deemed to be the best-performed youngster in the competition for the round. Players may only receive one nomination each for the year.
To be eligible for Rising Star nomination, players must:
- Be under 21 years of age as of January 1 of this year
- Have played 10 or fewer senior AFL games prior to this season
Players who receive a suspension during the season will be ruled ineligible for the Rising Star. However, as with the Brownlow Medal, a player may still be nominated for the award even after being suspended – despite the fact he cannot rightfully win it.
Whenever the season is over, an expert panel votes on the 23 nominees. Each member of the panel chooses their top five players and awards five votes to their number-one selection, four votes to their second pick, three to their third selection, and so on. The winner is the nominee who collects the most total votes.
Top online bookmakers for AFL Rising Star betting
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How to bet on the AFL Rising Star
AFL Rising Star odds go up at the conclusion of national draft in November. This is a great time to splash some cash if you know your footy and want maximum value for money, as the field is wide open and the prices are as loose as they get.
Perhaps the busiest time of year for AFL Rising Star betting is February, when the preseason games start and the new recruits get their first taste of AFL footy. Many a favourite has staked their claim at this time of year, several weeks out from round one of the home-and-away season.
As the season progresses, two or three contenders will break away from the rest of the pack. The earlier you get your bets on, the better, especially when there is an odds-on favourite. For example, a number of online bookies suspended betting on Sam Walsh with several rounds remaining in the 2019 season.
What to look for in AFL Rising Star betting
Unlike the Brownlow Medal, which is dominated by on-ballers, the list of AFL Rising Star winners offers a true reflection of the diverse talents on show in Australian rules football. Having to look beyond the midfield means picking a winner from the start is not always easy, so it worth keeping a few key points in mind when looking at the field.
- Will they play the whole season?
AFL fantasy players refer to ‘job security’ when selecting rookies at the start of the year, and this is a key factor when picking Rising Star candidates. A high draft pick is not always guaranteed to have an immediate impact, especially if they are coming into a competitive team and will have to fight for a starting spot. Hence, Rising Stars often come from teams that missed the finals the year before. - Do they have any standout qualities?
There are plenty of fine footballers who get overlooked for major accolades because they lack a certain je ne sais quoi. In midfielders, you want prolific ball-winning and line-breaking speed; a forward needs to hit the scoreboard and provide plenty of highlights inside 50; and defenders are rewarded for their intelligence, craft and maturity above all else. - Don’t rule out key position players
Many of the individual awards in AFL footy are now reserved for ball-winning machines and flashy half-forwards, but the Rising Star is a refreshing exception where role players and big men get the credit they deserve. Ben Holland, Nick Riewoldt, Justin Koschitzke and Jesse Hogan all won it as key forwards, while Jared Rivers and Daniel Talia were obstinate defenders from the off.
Past Winners of the AFL Rising Star Award
| 1993 | Nathan Buckley (Brisbane Bears) |
|---|---|
| 1994 | Chris Scott (Brisbane Bears) |
| 1995 | Nick Holland (Hawthorn) |
| 1996 | Ben Cousins (West Coast) |
| 1997 | Michael Wilson (Port Adelaide) |
| 1998 | Byron Pickett (North Melbourne) |
| 1999 | Adam Goodes (Sydney) |
| 2000 | Paul Hasleby (Fremantle) |
| 2001 | Justin Koschitzke (St Kilda) |
| 2002 | Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda) |
| 2003 | Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn) |
| 2004 | Jared Rivers (Melbourne) |
| 2005 | Brett Deledio (Richmond) |
| 2006 | Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide) |
| 2007 | Joel Selwood (Geelong) |
| 2008 | Rhys Palmer (Fremantle) |
| 2009 | Daniel Rich (Brisbane Lions) |
| 2010 | Daniel Hannebery (Sydney) |
| 2011 | Dyson Heppell (Essendon) |
| 2012 | Daniel Talia (Adelaide) |
| 2013 | Jaeger O’Meara (Gold Coast) |
| 2014 | Lewis Taylor (Brisbane Lions) |
| 2015 | Jesse Hogan (Melbourne) |
| 2016 | Callum Mills (Sydney) |
| 2017 | Andrew McGrath (Essendon) |
| 2018 | Jaidyn Stephenson (Collingwood) |
| 2019 | Sam Walsh (Carlton) |
| 2020 | Caleb Serong (Fremantle) |
| 2021 | Luke Jackson (Melbourne) |
| 2022 | Nick Daicos (Collingwood) |
| 2023 | Harry Sheezel (North Melbourne) |
| 2024 | Ollie Dempsey (Geelong) |
