“Oliver Florent is the 2018 NAB AFL Rising Star.” Those are the words you can expect to hear at the end of the year.
Halfway through a season of unpredictability due to injuries and suspension, this one seems pretty straightforward.
Tom Doedee, Alex Witherden and, most recently, Jaidyn Stephenson have dominated all rising star conversations for different reasons.
Doedee is in his third season within the AFL system and was groomed for the role he is currently playing in Adelaide’s defence. He has been excellent and, given the popularity of fantasy AFL games, Doedee is being recognised for his efforts.
He continues to work on his one-on-one defending, given he is undersized to play against key forwards, however, there is generally a sense of calm when Doedee has the ball. He wins it in contested situations and distributes the ball well.
Witherden was incredible in the back-end of 2017, which automatically carried over into the conversation surrounding the 2018 rising star award.
His numbers have been very good on paper, averaging 22 disposals and seven marks per game, however, he hasn’t quite had the same influence as others fighting for the award, particularly in a bottom-rated team.
The recently re-signed Stephenson is perhaps the most well-known, playing some nice games for Collingwood. He has been a constant threat in attack for the Magpies, kicking 21 goals in 13 matches and has two massive performances in half a season that will stick out in the minds of the judges.
Yet, it took until the sixth consecutive match of 20 or more disposals (29 against the Eagles in Round 13) for Oliver Florent to enter the conversation.
The second-year player made the positional shift from permanent forward to running off the back of the square in a hybrid half-back/midfield role in Round 8 against the Hawks.
Since that point, the 19-year-old has averaged 24 disposals, four marks, three inside 50s and a goal assist per game. Florent has been Sydney’s most consistent and damaging player in this period of time.
Florent played nine games in his first season at the Swans, after being selected with the 11th pick in the 2016 National Draft.
Playing as a small-to-medium sized forward, Florent could only show little signs of his perceived strengths. Footy smarts and good skills have been far more evident in his new role, allowing him a stage to shine upon.
Breaking into one of the league’s best and most consistent clubs over the past decade and playing such a pivotal role can no longer go unnoticed.
Bar the select few on social media who have been vocal fans of the 19-year-old since being drafted, we are all late to the party.
Florent’s ability to become an important player for a premiership contender at such a young age is reason enough to be considered the rising star.
John Longmire has found the perfect position for the young star to thrive in, and the guns of the Sydney midfield are more than happy to get the ball into their teammate’s hands.
It’s hard not to enjoy the way Florent is playing at the moment, given how noticeable he is in Sydney’s matches. Brownlow votes are not out of the equation.
What Florent offers the Swans has been more influential than the three obvious competitors for the award, particularly given the unbeaten streak his team has possessed since his positional switch.
Many seem to have recognised this stretch of excellent form, as Florent has surged into equal favouritism alongside his three young rivals.
The ease to which he has adapted to playing off the back flank and on the wing indicates that his current form is entirely sustainable, given he is clearly a better fit than his teammates.
The influence of Jarrad McVeigh should not go unnoticed, with his precise kicking often allowing Florent the freedom to conduct his work without too much pressure.
Those that vote on the award will look explore multiple facets of a player’s game before giving out their preferred winner for the award.
While the Victorian-centricity of the AFL mindset may see social media flooded with support for Stephenson or even popular players such as Doedee and Witherden, there’s only one player who is posting elite numbers in an elite team.
It could be an all-time great rising star race if Stephenson kicks 35-40 goals for the season, yet one suspects inconsistency will continue to be present in the play of a first-year young gun like him.
Florent mightn’t be the most well-known name going around, however, the media coverage around his impending success will change that.
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