3 minute read

North Melbourne star George Wardlaw remains the hot fancy to be crowned the AFL Rising Star for the 2024 season.

The award which is handed to the standout young player of the season, was thrown into chaos when two of the hot fancies were hit with suspensions.

A suspension means that a player is no longer eligible, and unfortunately for West Coast star Harley Reid and Western Bulldogs starlet Sam Darcy, they are now out of the running.

The absence of Reid and Darcy, opened the door for others and Wardlaw is now in the box seat to be named the next AFL Rising Star.

Nominations continue to come in, but with the regular season almost done and dusted, the North Melbourne starlet will take some stopping.

Let's take a look at the latest contenders to win the AFL Rising Star.

 Gold Coast racking up the nominations 

The standout young player in each round of the competition will receive a nomination. Then at the end of the season, the Rising Star will be announced.

Some young guns have thrown their hat into the ring in recent weeks and the Gold Coast Suns will be well represented come the end of the season.

As things stand the Suns have three players nominated for the Rising Star, including Will Graham, who was nominated after his standout performance in Round 16.

Other Gold Coast stars to be nominated include Jake Rogers (Round 7) and Bodhi Uwland (Round 12).

2024 is turning out to be a great year for Graham, who also recently penned a new two-year contract extension with the Suns.

 Humphries in the mix 

Geelong starlet Lawson Humphries put himself in the mix for the 2024 AFL Rising Star after being nominated in Round 18.

The Cats are going well this season as they push for the premiership, and defender Humphries is playing his role.

Humphries only made his debut in Round 16 but impressed with three solid performances on the bounce, the best of which came in Round 18.

He collected 23 disposals and 13 marks in the victory over Collingwood and has a very bright future in the game.

Humphries is the second Geelong player to be nominated, following on from Ollie Dempsey, who got the nod in Round One.

 Wardlaw leading the way 

Despite all the new nominations, a handful of players are leading the way in the race to be named AFL Rising Star.

Wardlaw is at the head of the pack. The North Melbourne starlet was nominated in Round 2 and has gone on to impress since then.

The same can be said of his Kangaroos team-mate Colby McKercher who was nominated in Round 9.

Geelong star Ollie Dempsey has cemented his place in the Geelong side and is seen as the main danger to Wardlaw.

Caleb Windsor from Melbourne and St Kilda starlet Darcy Wilson are seen as the outsiders to scoop the AFL Rising Star Award.

As long as they avoid suspension in the remaining rounds, it appears to be a two-horse race between Wardlaw and Dempsey.