Draftguru
Draftguru

AFL Rising Star Winners

The AFL's premier award for kids. Quite a few of these guys have gone on to win Brownlows, multiple All-Australian guernseys or play in premiership sides. Usually named after a sponsor (Norwich and NAB so far), it's officially called the Ron Evans Medal (since 2007).

Eligibility Criteria: Fewer than 10 senior games (before the season) and younger than 21 on Jan 1st. Like the Brownlow, suspension rules you out.

Voting: Nominations each week of the season, then voting 5-4-3-2-1 by nine AFL-chosen judges, usually administrators and media.

Year Player Age Club Drafted Games
2024 Oliver Dempsey 20 Geelong #13 Rookie 2021 25 (7)
2023 Harry Sheezel 18 North Melbourne #3 National 2022 23
2022 Nick Daicos 19 Collingwood #4 National 2021 25
2021 Luke Jackson 19 Melbourne #3 National 2019 24 (6)
2020 Caleb Serong 18 Fremantle #8 National 2019 14
2019 Sam Walsh 18 Carlton #1 National 2018 22
2018 Jaidyn Stephenson 18 Collingwood #6 National 2017 26
2017 Andrew McGrath 18 Essendon #1 National 2016 21
2016 Callum Mills 18 Sydney #3 National 2015 22
2015 Jesse Hogan 19 Melbourne #2 Mini-Draft 2012 20
2014 Lewis Taylor 18 Brisbane #28 National 2013 22
2013 Jaeger O'Meara 18 Gold Coast #1 Mini-Draft 2011 22
2012 Daniel Talia 20 Adelaide #13 National 2009 23 (9)
2011 Dyson Heppell 18 Essendon #8 National 2010 23
2010 Dan Hannebery 18 Sydney #30 National 2008 21 (7)
2009 Daniel Rich 18 Brisbane #7 National 2008 24
2008 Rhys Palmer 18 Fremantle #7 National 2007 20
2007 Joel Selwood 18 Geelong #7 National 2006 21
2006 Danyle Pearce 19 Port Adelaide #16 Rookie 2004 22 (7)
2005 Brett Deledio 17 Richmond #1 National 2004 22
2004 Jared Rivers 19 Melbourne #26 National 2002 22 (3)
2003 Sam Mitchell 20 Hawthorn #36 National 2001 21 (9)
2002 Nick Riewoldt 19 St Kilda #1 National 2000 22 (6)
2001 Justin Koschitzke 18 St Kilda #2 National 2000 20
2000 Paul Hasleby 18 Fremantle #2 National 1999 21
1999 Adam Goodes 18 Sydney #43 National 1997 20
1998 Byron Pickett 20 North Melbourne #67 National 1996 25 (1)
1997 Michael Wilson 20 Port Adelaide Foundation 1996 22
1996 Ben Cousins 17 West Coast Father-Son 1995 20
1995 Nick Holland 20 Hawthorn #14 National 1992 15 (2)
1994 Chris Scott 17 Brisbane #12 National 1993 19
1993 Nathan Buckley 20 Brisbane Zone 1992 20