WEST Coast forward Mark LeCras has become the second playerthis year to be nominated for the NAB AFL Rising Star in back-to-back seasonsafter winning the honours for round 20.
Last year LeCras was nominated for his five-goal bag againstRichmond in round 22, and almost exactly 12 months later he finds himself namedagain after booting four goals – also against the Tigers – on Saturday night.
LeCras said his second nomination was a "good littlesurprise".
"It was something I wasn't really expecting," LeCrassaid.
“I haven't been thinking about it because I suppose becauseI got one last year, but I was pretty happy.
"It's been a big year for me, but I was hoping to havea bigger impact at AFL level this year and it's been good to get a few moregames and to start kicking some goals has been good, so I'm happy with it soand I'm looking forward to the rest of the year."
The 20-year-old becomes just the fourth player in thehistory of the award to be nominated twice, along with Richmond'sDuncan Kellaway (1993 and 1994), West Coast's Michael Braun (1997 and 1998),and Melbourne'sNathan Jones (2006 and 2007).
This season, LeCras has played 15 games and kicked 28 goals,and has registered 21 matches since making his senior debut in round 10, 2005.
He was drafted with selection No.37 in the 2004 NAB AFLDraft, and spent the majority of his first year at the club playing with West Perth.
LeCras played two senior games in 2005 in rounds 10 and 11before returning to the WAFL, where he promised enough to warrant moreopportunities in 2006.
Although he managed only two games up until round 21 lastyear, he made sure he was noticed in the Eagles' final home-and-away match ofthe season with a 17-disposal, five-goal game that not only won him his firstNAB AFL Rising Star nomination, but also a Brownlow vote.
"I was lucky enough to get a few goals on the weekendand also last year against the Tigers, so I was pretty lucky," LeCrassaid.
"When I got that nomination last year I played all rightagainst them, but it was a lot tighter game on the weekend."
He placed eighth in the Sandover Medal last season, and thisyear has been one of the Eagles' most improved players. He has held his spot inthe senior side since round nine, and has kicked three four-goal bags.
LeCras is the younger brother of delisted Kangaroo Brent,and originally hails from WesternAustralia. He becomes the second Eagle to benominated for the award this season after Shannon Hurn picked up the prize inround 11.
The other nominees for the 2007 NAB AFL Rising Star are:Paddy Ryder (Essendon), Cameron Wood (Brisbane Lions), Tom Hawkins (Geelong),Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood), Joel Selwood (Geelong), Ricky Petterd(Melbourne), Jess Smith (Kangaroos), Shaun Higgins (Western Bulldogs), MitchClark (Brisbane Lions), Bryce Gibbs (Carlton), Shannon Hurn (West Coast),Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide), Marty Clarke (Collingwood), Scott McMahon(Kangaroos), Justin Westhoff (Port Adelaide), Sam Gilbert (St Kilda), NathanJones (Melbourne), Tom Williams (Western Bulldogs), and Travis Boak (PortAdelaide).
