- Nov 23, 2015
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Canberra’s own GIANTS Academy graduate Tom Green has been named the round four nominee for the NAB AFL Rising Star Award.
“It feels really good, I was just glad to be part of a really good team win and contribute to that, so I’m super excited,” Green said on Monday after coach Leon Cameron told him the news.
Green turned in a stellar performance in just his second game against Collingwood on Friday night, picking up 18 disposals, 12 contested possessions, seven clearances, six score involvements and his first AFL goal.
Green said he felt much more comfortable at the top level in Friday-night’s game after making his debut in round one, and was lauded around the AFL world for his composure under pressure.
“I think my first game I was a little bit all over the place with nerves on my debut but certainly on Friday night I felt a lot more comfortable,” Green said.
“As the game went on, I really felt like I started to find my feet and hopefully I can keep playing AFL and keep being more comfortable and being able to contribute to the team all year.”
Last year’s number 10 draft pick lived all around the country as a kid, the son of army officer and pilot Richard.
With his three younger brothers and mum Mel, the Green family settled in the nation’s capital just before Tom started high school, where he joined the GIANTS Academy not long after.
The grandson of four-time Richmond Premiership player Michael Green, Tom spoke of the influence the Academy - where two of his three younger brothers also play football - had on his development.
“I owe a lot of my development (to them) and I’m really grateful for the opportunity the GIANTS Academy’s given me to develop myself and my football,” Green said.
"It feels good to be able to come to the club and get involved and to start contributing to some wins. Hopefully I’ll continue to build from here.”
