THROUGHOUT the 2022 season, 20 players aged 21 or under received a nomination for the NAB AFLW Rising Star award. For some it was a flashy goal or plenty of disposals that won the selectors' eye, and for others it was a relentless defensive performance that earned them a nomination.

With the 2022 Rising Star to be named on Tuesday, it's time to have a closer look at some of the contenders. 

Sarah Verrier (Fremantle) - round four
Defender, 21 career games 

Verrier is an unassuming defender who has played every game since her debut in round one last year. Nominated for a hard-fought win over the Western Bulldogs where she had 11 disposals, five intercepts and 314 metres gained, it was an incredibly consistent season that makes her a top contender for the award. 

Across the season, Verrier registered 54 intercepts - equal-second at the Dockers - and, crucially, racked up the most metres gained of any Fremantle defender, helping to generate attack out of the back half. 

Montana McKinnon (Adelaide) - round five
Ruck, 11 career games 

McKinnon had to bide her time for a consistent shot at AFLW footy thanks to Adelaide's list depth, but this year has taken her chance and run with it. Playing largely in the ruck, it is her positioning around the ground that has made her so dangerous this season. 

Key to the Crows' game style this year has been their intercept game, especially intercepts made high up the ground, and McKinnon has contributed significantly to this. Averaging 2.7 intercepts, 7.2 disposals and 11.7 hitouts this year, McKinnon racked up 12 touches, seven marks and seven intercepts in her nomination game, a 39-point win over Carlton. 

Isabella Eddey (North Melbourne) - round seven
Wing, 21 career games 

One of the best ball users in the competition, Eddey earned her nomination for her 16 disposals at 81.3 per cent efficiency against Carlton in round seven. As a wing, Eddey plays with real discipline, not allowing herself to get sucked into the contest and instead remaining as an exit option for teammates winning the ball at the source. 

Eddey used the ball at 83.2 per cent disposal efficiency throughout the season, the highest of any player to win 100 or more disposals, while also averaging 2.5 marks and 1.9 intercepts per game. 

Alyssa Bannan (Melbourne) - round two
Forward, 21 career games 

Nominated for her two-goal round two performance against Richmond, it is her Goal of the Year-worthy run that will have caught most attention. Due to some player unavailability throughout different parts of the season, Bannan spent portions of the season on the wing for Melbourne, giving her a chance to showcase her speed and composure. 

The forward has been an important part of Melbourne's attacking structure, kicking eight of her own goals, while averaging 2.8 score involvements and 1.5 inside 50s throughout the home and away season. 

Dana East (Fremantle) - round nine
Midfielder, 10 career games 

Affectionately nicknamed 'Baby Turbo' for her similarities to star midfielder Kiara Bowers, East's neat hands when under pressure have been a standout trait of her work this season. Nominated despite her side's heavy defeat to Melbourne, East showed the footy world that she can stand up to immense pressure and stand strong in the face of the toughest of circumstances. 

A first-choice midfielder alongside captain Hayley Miller, Bowers and Gabby O'Sullivan, East attended 42.3 per cent of Fremantle's centre stoppages throughout the home and away season, averaging 1.9 clearances, 10 disposals and 5.8 tackles in her debut season. 

Mimi Hill (Carlton) - round five
Midfielder, 12 career games 

Upon return from an ACL injury suffered in round six last year, Hill reminded everyone why she went at No.12 in the 2020 NAB AFLW Draft. Hitting the ground running, she won a career-high 26 disposals and registered 349 metres gained in her first game back. 

Hill went on to average 21.5 disposals, 2.5 inside 50s and three clearances for the season and became the leader of Carlton's midfield during their late-season surge, winning four of her six games. 

Charlie Rowbottom (Gold Coast) - round two
Midfielder, 10 career games 

Last year's No.1 draft pick put on a show in round two against West Coast as her side won its first game in 672 days. Rowbottom's strength through the middle helped to spur on Gold Coast's five-goal final quarter as she won 17 disposals, five clearances and laid 12 tackles. 

Averaging 15.7 disposals - the most of any first-year player - across the season, Rowbottom also laid 6.3 tackles and won 3.4 clearances per game.  

Teah Charlton (Adelaide) - round eight
Midfielder, 20 career games 

Charlton was Adelaide's first selection in the 2020 draft and since her round one debut last year has proven to be one of the most consistent young players in the competition. Having missed just once since debut - due to health and safety protocols - Charlton offers much-needed support to the stars of the Crows' midfield. 

Earning her nomination for a career-high 18 disposals and three score involvements against Fremantle, Charlton's ability to adapt game-by-game to what is needed of her has been vital. She averages 12.4 disposals, 4.7 inside 50s and 2.1 marks per game this season, always ready to play exactly the role her team needs. 

Mia King (North Melbourne) - round one
Midfielder, 24 career games 

King graduated to a permanent midfield spot for the Kangaroos this year as the side moved the magnets around, and really solidified herself as an onballer.  

Not only can King reliably win the ball, averaging 14.5 disposals this season, she is proficient at translating that into attack with 2.4 inside 50s per match and three goals to her name this season. No slouch defensively either, King laid an average of 6.2 tackles and won 2.5 intercepts throughout the year, showing her willingness to run both ways. 

Georgie Prespakis (Geelong) - round one
Midfielder, 10 career games 

The No.2 draft pick hit the competition with a bang while rocking her already signature long sleeves. Prespakis had 20 disposals and six tackles in her nomination game, but it was her clearance work that really stood out. With seven clearances, Prespakis equalled the AFLW record for most clearances on debut, while also registering the second-most metres gained of any player in their first game with 402. 

Across the season Prespakis was used in a number of ways, including as a run-with player on dangerous midfielders and across the half-forward line, and has nowhere to go but up. 

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