EXCITING indigenous talent Adam Sambono's eye-catching rookie NEAFL season saw him claim the competition's Rising Star award in Brisbane on Sunday night.
The 20-year-old, who hails from remote Northern Territory town of Daly River, booted 29 goals in 10 games either side of his Allies commitments at the AFL Under-18 Championships.
Sambono is so lightly played he was given special permission to compete at this year's underage championships after AFL recruiters took a heightened interest in him.
The 188cm, 67kg forward also made the NEAFL team of the year and will attend the NAB AFL Draft Combine from October 3 to 6. At least four clubs must nominate someone for the player to score a combine invite.
Sambono, a left-footer with an excellent vertical leap, mercurial skills and improving endurance, won the NT Football League's Rising Star playing for Darwin in the 2015-16 season.
He announced himself as a player to watch with six goals in his NT Thunder and NEAFL debut in April, and shared the league goalkicking lead with teammate Darren Ewing through eight rounds.
Sambono collected the Anzac Day Medal for a four-goal, best-on-ground performance against Redland in round four.
Southport midfielder Jordan Keras won the NEAFL's MVP award, polling in 16 of his 18 matches to finish on 78 votes, ahead of retiring Thunder great Cam Ilett and Sydney Uni's Zac O'Brien (73 each).
NEAFL MVP TOP 10
78 votes: Jordan Keras (Southport)
73: Cameron Ilett (NT Thunder)
73: Zac O’Brien (Sydney Uni)
72: Jordan Dawson (Sydney)
63: Mitch Hallahan (Gold Coast)
61: Tom Young (Sydney Uni)
50: Matthew Payne (Aspley)
43: Darcy Macpherson (Gold Coast)
43: Lewis Stevenson (Sydney Uni)
41: Jordan Harper (Canberra)
