TWO CLASSY midfielders, Geelong's Nina Morrison (pictured above, centre) and Greater Western Sydney's Alyce Parker, are the first NAB AFL Women's Rising Star nominees for round one.
Morrison, the No.1 pick in the 2018 NAB AFLW Draft, looked extremely comfortable at the top level, leading the disposal count in Geelong's one-point win over Collingwood with 22 touches.
The 18-year-old was the toast of Geelong on Saturday night, kicking what turned out to be the match-winning behind.
Her running power was impressive, but Morrison was also strong around contests, with 14 contested possessions, eight tackles and six clearances.
Morrison had a stunning final year of under-18s footy in 2018 – she was named equal best and fairest in the TAC Cup Girls' competition and was the co-player of the NAB AFLW Under-18 Championships (Carlton draftee Maddy Prespakis was co-winner of both).
Parker is a strong inside midfielder from Holbrook, five hours southwest of Sydney.
She was selected with pick 12 (the Giants' first pick after she nominated for the New South Wales zone) in the 2018 draft.
Also 18, Parker held her own up against a strong Brisbane midfield in GWS' two-point loss.
The Giant had 18 disposals at 72 per cent efficiency as well as taking four marks and laying three tackles.
Parker even threw in a couple of the trademark 'don't argue' fend-offs that she used to great effect in last year's under-18 carnival, when she was named All Australian captain.
Players are eligible for a rising star nomination if they are 21 or under as of 1 January 2019 and have not been previously nominated for the award.
