Today Melbourne’s Jesse Hogan or Carlton’s Patrick Cripps will rightfully be announced as the AFL’s NAB rising star.
But down at Simonds Stadium, the Cats will be grinning ear to ear anyway.
In 2015, the Cats have more rising star nominations than any club. Cory Gregson, Jackson Thurlow and Darcy Lang each were given the nod throughout the year in recognition of not only outstanding performances but also consistency.
In fact, the trio play a combined 59 out of a possible 63 games with Thurlow missing two games due to his kidney injury at the start of the year, Lang missing the final game of the year due to achilies soreness and Gregson earning one game’s well earned rest against Brisbane in round 18.
With those three earning nominations it took the number of Cats in the 2015 squad with nominations to 16. Of those, three achieved them with their previous clubs (Sam Blease, Josh Caddy and Jared Rivers). Even Cats coach Chris Scott is a former winner of the award.
So whilst the Cats won’t take out the gong this year, there is plenty of stars and stars in the making to take us forward.
How the 2015 nominees rank against their peers
Cory Gregson
Ranked 4th among rising stars in Total Inside 50s
Ranked 5th among rising stars in Total Goal Assists
Ranked 10th among rising stars in Total Handballs
Ranked 8th among rising stars in Total Marks
Ranked 10th among rising stars in Total Goals
Ranked 5th among rising stars in Total Tackles
Ranked 10th among rising stars in Total AFL Fantasy Score
Ranked 10th among rising stars in Total Uncontested Possessions
Ranked 10th among rising stars in Total Time On Ground %
Darcy Lang
Ranked 7th among rising stars in Total Inside 50s
Ranked 8th among rising stars in Total Goal Assists
Ranked 10th among rising stars in Total Kicks
Ranked 9th among rising stars in Total Handballs
Ranked 10th among rising stars in Total Disposals
Ranked 9th among rising stars in Total Goals
Ranked 7th among rising stars in Total Tackles
Ranked 9th among rising stars in Total AFL Fantasy Score
Ranked 7th among rising stars in Total Uncontested Possessions
Ranked 10th among rising stars in Total Effective Disposals
Ranked 5th among rising stars in Total Bounces
Jackson Thurlow
Ranked 3rd among rising stars in Total Kicks
Ranked 7th among rising stars in Total Handballs
Ranked 5th among rising stars in Total Disposals
Ranked 4th among rising stars in Total Marks
Ranked 7th among rising stars in Total Supercoach Score
Ranked 7th among rising stars in Total AFL Fantasy Score
Ranked 2nd among rising stars in Total Uncontested Possessions
Ranked 3rd among rising stars in Total Effective Disposals
Ranked 1st among rising stars in Total Rebound 50s
2015 listed rising star nominees
Darcy Lang
Jackson Thurlow
Cory Gregson
George Horlin-Smith
Sam Blease
Josh Caddy
Steven Motlop
Daniel Menzel
Mitch Duncan
Joel Selwood (winner)
Tom Hawkins
Jared Rivers (winner)
Andrew Mackie
James Kelly
Jimmy Bartel
Corey Enright
