CARLTON could crown its first-ever NAB AFL Rising Star at the 2017 NAB AFL Rising Star Awards on Friday.
In an exciting year for Carlton’s junior stocks, five Blues were nominated for the prestigious award, with Caleb Marchbank earning the Club’s first 2017 nomination in Round 6 and Charlie Curnow rounding out the last of the Blues’ nominees in Round 16.
In between, first-year Blue Samo Petrevski-Seton earned a Rising Star nod after impressing in Round 7, while David Cuningham was recognised for his talent in Round 12 and Jack Silvagni in Round 13.
The AFL Rising Star Award first came to fruition in 1993 and has since seen 24 young players recognised for their talent as an up-and-coming AFL footballer.
The Blues have strongly contested the accolade over the past two seasons, with young gun Patrick Cripps falling just short to Melbourne’s Jesse Hogan in 2015, and young tall Jacob Weitering finishing third in last year’s count behind winner Callum Mills (Sydney) and Western Bulldogs youngster Caleb Daniel.
Here’s a snapshot of the five young Blues who are vying for the Ron Evans Medal in 2017:
CALEB MARCHBANK
Marchbank received a Rising Star nod following his performance in the Blues’ 19-point win over Sydney in Round 6 where he amassed 21 possessions, 10 marks and four inside-50s.
The 20-year-old featured in 16 games during his first season at Carlton and finished 2017 ranked first among the Rising Star nominees for average intercepts (6.06) and marks (6.38) per game.
The young defender took a career-high six intercept marks against Collingwood in Round 7, the second-most taken by a Carlton player in a game this season.
SAM PETREVSKI-SETON
After making his AFL debut in the Blues’ opening-round clash against Richmond, Petrevski-Seton went on to receive a Rising Star nomination in Round 7. In that match against Collingwood, the 19-year-old gathered 22 possessions (10 contested) and booted two goals.
Petrevski-Seton pulled on his No.5 guernsey on 20 occasions in 2017, and finished the season ranked second among the Rising Star nominees for total contested possessions (176), clearances (42) and tackles (95).
DAVID CUNINGHAM
After three senior games for Carlton in 2016, Cuningham returned to the Blues’ line-up for eight appearances in 2017.
The speedy midfielder was rewarded with a Rising Star nomination following his efforts during the Blues’ thrilling one-point win over GWS that saw him tally 19 disposals, five marks and two goals.
The 20-year-old finished the season ranked fourth among the Rising Star nominees for average inside-50s per game (2.75), with a career-high six against North Melbourne in Round 10.
David Cuningham celebrates a goal in the Blues' one-point win over the Giants. (Photo: AFL Media)
JACK SILVAGNI
Silvagni was afforded a Rising Star nomination after he collected 13 disposals, six marks, five inside-50s and two goals against Gold Coast in Round 13.
After eight games for the Blues in his debut season last year, the young forward booted 19 goals across 20 games in 2017, with a career-high three majors against Gold Coast in Round 4 and Melbourne in Round 16.
The 19-year-old finished the season ranked equal third among the Rising Star nominees for total marks taken (23) and tackles laid (18) inside 50.
CHARLIE CURNOW
Curnow received a Rising Star nomination following his on on-field display against Melbourne in Round 16 where he collected 19 disposals, 10 marks, two goals and four tackles.
After six senior appearances in 2016, the 194cm forward missed only one game in his second season, and was one of only five players across the league to average at least 1.5 contested marks and 2.5 tackles per game in 2017.
Curnow finished the season ranked first among the Rising Star nominees for total marks (119) and total contested marks (36). He managed a career-high 11 marks against Adelaide in Round 15.
The 2017 NAB AFL Rising Star nominees include:
Round 1: Sam Powell-Pepper (Port Adelaide)
Round 2: Ryan Burton (Hawthorn)
Round 3: Brandan Parfitt (Geelong)
Round 4: Andrew McGrath (Essendon)
Round 5: Eric Hipwood (Brisbane Lions)
Round 6: Caleb Marchbank (Carlton)
Round 7: Sam Petrevski-Seton (Carlton)
Round 8: Tim Taranto (GWS Giants)
Round 9: Tom Phillips (Collingwood)
Round 10: Wayne Milera (Adelaide)
Round 11: Dan Butler (Richmond)
Round 12: David Cuningham (Carlton)
Round 13: Jack Silvagni (Carlton)
Round 14: Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane Lions)
Round 15: Blake Hardwick (Hawthorn)
Round 16: Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
Round 17: Alex Witherden (Brisbane Lions)
Round 18: Lewis Melican (Sydney Swans)
Round 19: Jason Castagna (Richmond)
Round 20: Luke Ryan (Fremantle)
Round 21: Dan Houston (Port Adelaide)
Round 22: Ben Ainsworth (Gold Coast Suns)
Round 23: Will Hayward (Sydney Swans)
