Prediction POLL ADDED - Who will be our highest rated Rising Star in AFL Season 2026?

[GapInIkonPark]

Players must be under 21 on 1 January and also have played 10 matches or less to be eligible for nomination.

All of Cooper Lord, Ashton Moir and Matt Carroll were nominated during AFL Season 2025.

Carlton players eligible for nomination for the 2026 award:
(as at the end of the ND and RD)

• Jagga Smith
• Harry O’Farrell
• Ben Camporeale
• Lucas Camporeale
• Harry Charleson (r)
• Billy Wilson
• Harry Dean
• Talor Byrne
• Jack Ison

I am backing in Jagga Smith and Harry Dean for nominations.

 

[Benaly28]

Jagga.

 

[tarczonandjane]

I don’t think I should nominate Jagga again

 

[Lukeblueboy]

Jagga or dean in a Canta

 

[LFTWNG11]

Jagga.

Won’t play enough games.

 

[Benaly28]

Won’t play enough games.

Ah yes your right will
Play more than 10.

 

[Sin City]

Jagga by a mile

 

[beowulf]

Jagga by a mile

I would be quite so confident, as I think Dean, in particular, will get a fair bit of senior football. I also expect the Camp twins to step up. But, if he has completely recovered from his knee, Jagga should be the one. His body will be much better prepared than he was last year. He won't be just pushed off the ball like a skinny kid.

 

[Wickzki]

Jagga and Dean will finish top 5 in the league

 

[Soapy V]

All of them

 

[Coona Blues]

IMO, every player on that list is capable of receiving a nomination, opportunity dependent.

Jagga and Dean the obvious to be prominent.

Part of me wants HOF to only play a couple of games so he can be eligible next year to fight out the title with Cody.

I think our supporters have become blasé with Ben Campo, he is highly regarded within the group. I think Lucas will come on too, but am struggling to see how much opportunity he will receive now we are stacked on flanks and wings.

Even Billy and “Gary” have the scope to stake a claim. Ison and Byrne have plenty of potential, and while we have the list to develop them in the twos, could get early opportunity to shine. We have a very under rated young group not dramatically lacking in comparison to any in the competition for “real” potential.

 

[GapInIkonPark]

Apart from the 9 eligible for the award, we have another 10 who are 22yo or under at the start of 2026:

- Campbell Chesser. 22yo. 36 matches

- Lachie Cowan 21yo (next week) 38 games

- Jesse Motlop 22yo 63 games

- Ollie Hollands 22yo (mid Jan) 65 games

- Matt Carroll (r) 20yo. 17 games

- Cooper Lord (r) 20yo. 23 games

- Hudson O’Keeffe 21yo (mid Dec) 5 games

- Ashton Moir 20yo. 11 games

- Rob Monahan (r) 21yo. 0 games

- Matt Duffy (r) 22yo (early Jan) 0 games

 

[Matty411]

Jagga will win the RS in 2026 after playing 20+ games. Might even get the nod as early as R0 or 1.

Dean won't be far behind - think his competitiveness and understanding of our program will hold him in great stead. Will quickly surpass the likes of Young, Gov and Haynes to be our 2nd tall - albeit with a few rests and chop outs.

 

[The Bighouse]

Jagga will win the RS in 2026 after playing 20+ games. Might even get the nod as early as R0 or 1.

Dean won't be far behind - think his competitiveness and understanding of our program will hold him in great stead. Will quickly surpass the likes of Young, Gov and Haynes to be our 2nd tall - albeit with a few rests and chop outs.

R0 - J.Smith
R1 - H.Dean

 

[Matty411]

R0 - J.Smith
R1 - H.Dean

End nominations. There's your top 2.

 

[GapInIkonPark]

From Zero Hanger

Your AFL team's Rising Star eligible players and top contenders for 2026 — Zero Hanger

See which young gun at your club could take out next year’s title.

apple.news

 

[ferrisb]

People need to seriously pump the brakes on Dean.

He's an 18yo key defender. It's extremely rare for one to stand out in their first year of AFL.

Even harder considering we only have one other genuine KPD and we can't easily hide Dean playing playing on a 3rd/4th tall.

Yes, I know he's competitive. Yes, I know he's spent some time around the AFL boys already. But he's still a baby in terms of key defenders.

Expecting him to come close to winning the RS in year 1 is a bit ridiculous IMHO.

 

[MightyBlue]

People need to seriously pump the brakes on Dean.

He's an 18yo key defender. It's extremely rare for one to stand out in their first year of AFL.

Even harder considering we only have one other genuine KPD and we can't easily hide Dean playing playing on a 3rd/4th tall.

Yes, I know he's competitive. Yes, I know he's spent some time around the AFL boys already. But he's still a baby in terms of key defenders.

Expecting him to come close to winning the RS in year 1 is a bit ridiculous IMHO.

That kind of rational thinking has no place on this board

 

[BluStreak]

That kind of rational thinking has no place on this board

NO. that kind of rational thinking from ferrisb is out of place on this board.

 

[Dramoth]

I am going to really feel for Dean. He'll probably play 9 games this year and we shelve him for the year... and he comes in as the runner up to Jags. And then next year, he gets nominated again, but plays out the full season only to come in runner up to Walker.

How cursed would you be.

 

[BlueTongue]

People need to seriously pump the brakes on Dean.

He's an 18yo key defender. It's extremely rare for one to stand out in their first year of AFL.

Even harder considering we only have one other genuine KPD and we can't easily hide Dean playing playing on a 3rd/4th tall.

Yes, I know he's competitive. Yes, I know he's spent some time around the AFL boys already. But he's still a baby in terms of key defenders.

Expecting him to come close to winning the RS in year 1 is a bit ridiculous IMHO.

^ that's a fair call but I have a feeling he might make you eat those words ;-p

 

[ferrisb]

^ that's a fair call but I have a feeling he might make you eat those words ;-p

Nothing would make me happier.




Well, maybe winning tattslotto and having Salma Hayek deliver the cheque in a free Ferrari F40 might make me happier.... But yes, I would love for Dean to make me eat my words.

 

[FitzroyBlueBagger]

Nothing would make me happier.




Well, maybe winning tattslotto and having Salma Hayek deliver the cheque in a free Ferrari F40 might make me happier.... But yes, I would love for Dean to make me eat my words.

Not that far fetched…

 

[NYCFC]

Reading between the lines on Davies' recent Q&A, when asked if Dean will play round 1 he said that he doesn't want a situation where he comes in, and then goes back to the VFL. I'd take from that they'd be happy for him to build up to breaking into the senior team during the season, rather than throw him in first round. So may end up playing after finding his feet in the VFL.

But regardless, I can't see a world where Jagger isn't our highest rated RS.