Jeremy McLovin
All Australian
- Jun 19, 2025
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- AFL Club
- West Coast
Figured now was as good a time as any to discuss the 2026 rising star, and which players on our list could potentially win it. I'll divide it into a few different sections, starting with.....
Honourable mentions!
Tom McCarthy: Eligible under the "10 games or less" clause, but too old.
Archer Reid: Eligible by age, but has played too many games. Shame as I feel he could really break out this year.
Clay Hall: As above.
New draftees!
Willem Duursma: Depends where he plays. Honestly don't think he'll have the early impact to win, but can easily see him getting a nomination. Not a knock on his skills/potential at all - after all, his frequent player comparison is the Bont, who also didn't win.
CDT: Can see him getting a nomination, can't see him winning. Honestly I think his best chance of getting a rising star award is to play ten or less games this year and then win it next year.
Josh Lindsay: His style of play is very suited to getting a nomination, but I don't think he's a strong chance to win, but I could well be proven wrong. A lot will depend on TMac - if he's got more of a midfield role and Lindsay is given the distributor role out of the backline, he'll get a lot of attention. My personal pick for being the first nominee out of the new draftees.
Sam Allen: Due to the ACL, won't be winning it this year unless he's an absolute phenom once he debuts. Much like CDT in that I think ten games or less and then winning next year is much more likely.
Tylah Williams: Previously I would have said small forwards are unlikely to win it, but Murphy Reid. That said, I think a small forward for us won't be around the ball enough. Unlikely to get a nomination.
Fred Rodriguez: Hard to call this one. Was initially expected to be a top ten draftee then slid all the way to the rookie draft. You'd have to say that it's unlikely, but track watchers have said he's the most physically developed of our new guys. If he debuts early a single great game could get him a nom but I consider him unlikely to win it.
Second year and older players!
Luca Grego: I don't see it happening. Was pretty composed in his debut late last year but as a mid size defender he'll be hard pressed to even get a game unless there's a series of unfortunate injuries. I expect him to still be eligible in 2027.
Jacob Newton: Honestly, much the same as Tylah Williams.
Malakai Champion: See above.
Harvey Johnston: Unlikely to get a nomination.
Hamish Davis: Probably not getting a nomination.
Bo Allan: A real wildcard. Had a hell of a first season, copping illness, suspension, and injury. Hard to say what he's capable of but could well make the people who are already writing him off look dumb. Keep in mind that he was initially expected to be a top 10 pick in a strong draft, and was taken ahead of last year's rising star.
Tom Gross: I'm a believer. As I see it, he undeniably has the skill, just not sure about the body. Has been putting in a lot of work per the track watchers so a nomination wouldn't surprise me, but a win would.
Jobe Shanahan: The real ****ing deal. Averaged 2.3 scoring shots a game as a 19yo kpf leading the attack for the worst team in the comp, being delivered to by the worst midfield. With Waterman back to draw the best defender and a bit of improvement from our midfield he could well turn out to be a nightmare for the opposition. I've got so much stock in him, I expect him to be an early nominee.
So that's everyone who's eligible. My personal expectation is that we'll get multiple nominees, with Duursma, Lindsay, and Shanahan all very likely. My hope for the season is that we equal or beat the record for nominations from a single team (not counting inaugural seasons) which I think is four.
But screw nominations, who's going to win? Well, I have the inside word, so take this to the bank - in third place, Willem Duursma. In second place, Jobe Shanahan. And the winner is........ NONE OF THE ABOVE. That's right, we've been playing the league like a fiddle. Our mid season draftee will come in, play a game or two of wafl, then absolutely dominate the remaining ten games of the season, both winning the rising star and remaining eligible for the award in 2027. Unfortunately, a historic and previously considered impossible back to back win will be blocked by the breakout of CDT, the eventual winner. A potential consolation prize of a brownlow will also be stolen by Harley. Poor [Insert name here], always the bridesmaid, never the bride.
Honourable mentions!
Tom McCarthy: Eligible under the "10 games or less" clause, but too old.
Archer Reid: Eligible by age, but has played too many games. Shame as I feel he could really break out this year.
Clay Hall: As above.
New draftees!
Willem Duursma: Depends where he plays. Honestly don't think he'll have the early impact to win, but can easily see him getting a nomination. Not a knock on his skills/potential at all - after all, his frequent player comparison is the Bont, who also didn't win.
CDT: Can see him getting a nomination, can't see him winning. Honestly I think his best chance of getting a rising star award is to play ten or less games this year and then win it next year.
Josh Lindsay: His style of play is very suited to getting a nomination, but I don't think he's a strong chance to win, but I could well be proven wrong. A lot will depend on TMac - if he's got more of a midfield role and Lindsay is given the distributor role out of the backline, he'll get a lot of attention. My personal pick for being the first nominee out of the new draftees.
Sam Allen: Due to the ACL, won't be winning it this year unless he's an absolute phenom once he debuts. Much like CDT in that I think ten games or less and then winning next year is much more likely.
Tylah Williams: Previously I would have said small forwards are unlikely to win it, but Murphy Reid. That said, I think a small forward for us won't be around the ball enough. Unlikely to get a nomination.
Fred Rodriguez: Hard to call this one. Was initially expected to be a top ten draftee then slid all the way to the rookie draft. You'd have to say that it's unlikely, but track watchers have said he's the most physically developed of our new guys. If he debuts early a single great game could get him a nom but I consider him unlikely to win it.
Second year and older players!
Luca Grego: I don't see it happening. Was pretty composed in his debut late last year but as a mid size defender he'll be hard pressed to even get a game unless there's a series of unfortunate injuries. I expect him to still be eligible in 2027.
Jacob Newton: Honestly, much the same as Tylah Williams.
Malakai Champion: See above.
Harvey Johnston: Unlikely to get a nomination.
Hamish Davis: Probably not getting a nomination.
Bo Allan: A real wildcard. Had a hell of a first season, copping illness, suspension, and injury. Hard to say what he's capable of but could well make the people who are already writing him off look dumb. Keep in mind that he was initially expected to be a top 10 pick in a strong draft, and was taken ahead of last year's rising star.
Tom Gross: I'm a believer. As I see it, he undeniably has the skill, just not sure about the body. Has been putting in a lot of work per the track watchers so a nomination wouldn't surprise me, but a win would.
Jobe Shanahan: The real ****ing deal. Averaged 2.3 scoring shots a game as a 19yo kpf leading the attack for the worst team in the comp, being delivered to by the worst midfield. With Waterman back to draw the best defender and a bit of improvement from our midfield he could well turn out to be a nightmare for the opposition. I've got so much stock in him, I expect him to be an early nominee.
So that's everyone who's eligible. My personal expectation is that we'll get multiple nominees, with Duursma, Lindsay, and Shanahan all very likely. My hope for the season is that we equal or beat the record for nominations from a single team (not counting inaugural seasons) which I think is four.
But screw nominations, who's going to win? Well, I have the inside word, so take this to the bank - in third place, Willem Duursma. In second place, Jobe Shanahan. And the winner is........ NONE OF THE ABOVE. That's right, we've been playing the league like a fiddle. Our mid season draftee will come in, play a game or two of wafl, then absolutely dominate the remaining ten games of the season, both winning the rising star and remaining eligible for the award in 2027. Unfortunately, a historic and previously considered impossible back to back win will be blocked by the breakout of CDT, the eventual winner. A potential consolation prize of a brownlow will also be stolen by Harley. Poor [Insert name here], always the bridesmaid, never the bride.
