While boom West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui will almost certainly and deservedly pick up this season’s NAB Rising Star Award, the AFL would be wise to reassess the award’s eligibility criteria.
Should Michael Barlow average 25 possessions throughout the season and lead the Fremantle Dockers to just their third finals campaign, most football followers would believe Barlow worthy of least a nomination as the competition’s best rookie.
As the rules stand, at 24, Barlow is ineligible.
Likewise, the Cats 28 year old recruit James Podsiadly is capable of finishing 2010 with 50 plus goals. Such an achievement after walking into a premiership team is rare.
Should it not be considered at least the equal to Naitanui’s brilliance?
Barlow and Podsiadly are in their debut seasons. They deal with the same increase in pressure, responsibility and nerves as any youngster. The increase in mature age rookies within AFL ranks demands a rethink on the Rising Star voting.
Back in 1993, when then Brisbane Bears and soon to be Collingwood gun Nathan Buckley won the inaugaral award, mature age rookies were a dying breed and have become an almost endangered species since.
AFL recruiters became obsessed with testing and trials of 17 year olds to maximise the undeniably significant investment clubs make in new recruits.
It was not deemed unreasonable for the Rising Star Award to be limited to those 21 and under with less than ten senior games to their name at the start of the season.
Some of the greatest players in recent decades did not arrive on the national scene until well into their twenties. Think Kernahan, Bradley, Buckenara.
A return to a broader recruiting plan has been forced upon AFL clubs given the imminent arrival of franchises on the Gold Coast and West Sydney. The next two drafts are severely compromised as a result, forcing scouts to seek out previously overlooked footballers with plenty still to offer.
In turn, it makes the rules for the NAB Rising Star Award increasingly redundant.
Recognition for the likes of Greg Broughton last season was sadly lacking, given he arrived at Fremantle at 22.
Twenty one year old Sydney Swans goalsneak Lewis Jetta is within months of similarly missing out. The likes of Jetta, Barlow and Podsiadly have given AFL fans plenty of exciting moments and talking points just a month into the season.
The Rising Star Award should recognise the best new players within the system regardless of age.
Redb
Roar Guru
maybe? and your right we will find out this week. Should be a good game but I'd expect the Swans to get up despite Naitinui. The issue with Naitinui, like the Browlow at times is that the player who stands out sometimes gets the nod. Naitinui is 200cm and an athletic freak - I reckon he's got it in the bag. I also think his influence in the ruck at centre clearances has a larger impact on the game overall. Will watch Hannebery with interest but only when Naitinui is on the bench. :-)
Chris K
Guest
I think Hannebery will be more consistent than Naitanui, but we shall see this weekend
Pez
Guest
Nic Naitanui is one of the most exciting players I have seen in forty years There is no hype about him . . . .It's all talent . . . .way above the rest of them.
Craig
Guest
There is a lot of hype around Nic Nat but I think his win is far from assured. What about Dan Hannebury? 27 quality touches in the Swans midfield and a stunning goal at an important juncture in the match on the weekend in a breakout match that none other than Leigh Matthews acclaims. I'm sure there are other players that are also being overlooked by the media writers.
Redb
Roar Guru
You make a good point about the eligibility of mature age recruits, but I think the award is about the young kids coming into the game and would prefer it remains the awards focus on young rising stars. Barlow and Podsiadly are free to win the B & F for their club or Brownlow if good enough.