While in seasons gone by we might have already had a stand out performer, this year any number of talented youngsters can win the Rising Star Award.

With 12 rounds to go in the season proper, for my mind there are five genuine contenders still in the running, Melbourne duo Jack Trengove and Tom Scully, West Coast Eagle Nic Naitanui and Sydney’s Daniel Hannebery and Gary Rohan.

The early shooting star was the high-flying Nic Naitanui.

His highlights reel is as good as any in the league and the Fijian’s famous dread locks are as eye catching as his freakish skills.

Whether he’s taking spectacular mark, bursting through the pack with speed or demonstrating deft touch with his tap work in the ruck, Naitanui has made an immediate impact on the competition.

Naitanui has struggled in the last month to find consistency and with Dean Cox returning to full fitness, has faded a little to third favourite at $4.00, but still very much in the hunt.

Scully and Trengove are very difficult to separate, but I would put Trengove marginally in front at this early stage.

The South Australian’s poise in pressure situations and skills by foot are first class, and it amazes me how much time he always seems to have around the contest.

At $3.50 Trengove is a deserved favourite.

Scully finds just as much of the ball but seems to turn it over when he’s under pressure, regardless, his gut running and work ethic for such a young student of the game is well beyond his years.

While he’s slipped out to $5.00 and fourth favouritism, any 18-year-old that can have a 40-plus possession game is going to be a star. Don’t count him out either!

Swan Daniel Hannebery has emerged as a serious threat, the boy from Xavier College is almost a clone of Ryan O’Keefe and the scary thing is, his past month has been as good as anyone at Sydney.

Hannebery is a real run and carry type player with a penetrating left boot, as well as being able to push forward and find the goals as well.

At $3.75 not many would have had this kid as a contender!

Sydney’s Gary Rohan has come from nowhere in recent weeks, the 18-year-old is a good size, has genuine speed and fantastic skills. He had a solid pre-season and NAB Cup campaign but then strangely was unable to break into the Swans line up until a couple of weeks ago, paying $51 he is a massive outside chance if he can continue his form. I’m tipping this fiery red head can end up outshining them all!

It would be remiss not to mention Richmond young gun Dustin Martin, but due to his reprimand by the match review panel he is ineligible to win the award. His tattoos created more than a few headlines pre-season but now it’s his raw football ability doing all the talking. He will no doubt be an integral part of the Tigers midfield for the next decade. Martin is powerfully built, has exceptional skills and wins the hard footy time and time again.

Other players to impress so far this season have been Ryan Bastinac from North Melbourne, Jake Melksham and Michael Hurley from Essendon, Nathan Fyfe and Anthony Morabito from Fremantle, Tom Rockliff from Brisbane and Jarad Grant from the Bulldogs.

It’s a credit to the development system within AFL football that so many young kids are coming through as ready made footballers, sometimes this creates more pressure, but ultimately everybody wins.

I bet more kids in Perth are wearing Nic Naitanui’s jumper than Josh Kennedy. And I bet Melbourne fans have joined up this season on the back of Scully and Trengove.

Not only are they exciting to watch, but they offer hope to long suffering supporters of a much brighter future.

The kids are crucial and this year we’ve been blessed with some fantastic talent, it’s great for the game to be seeing so many first and second year players having an influence on the competition.

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