Steven Greene has come a long way in a short space of time.
The 19 year-old former Sandringham Dragons player has notched up eight senior games this year and finished on a high last Saturday with a team-best 33 possessions against St Kilda that earned him the Round 22 Ansett Rising Star nomination.
Greene came to Hawthorn laden with high expectations.
Selected at number 28 in the second round of the AFL draft in 2000 under the father-son rule, he was preceded by the reputation of his father, Hawthorn champion Russell Greene, a former best and fairest winner and three-time premiership player.
After his performances in season 2001 however, Steven Greene has managed to prove that he deserves a spot in the senior side not because of his name, but his talent.
Prior to joining the Hawks Greene's pedigree included representation in the Victorian Metropolitan squad and a third place in the Sandringham Dragons' best and fairest.
A lightly built running player, Greene works hard in the midfield to get to contests and create space.
Despite his size, Greene has proven his strength on several occasions - including a desperate tackle on Barry Hall in Round 22 that earned him an inspiring free kick.
He can also match the best in front of goal, with a pressure kick in the dying moments of the Round 17 clash against Carlton resulting in a match-turning goal.
The AFL Rising Star Award was introduced in 1993 to recognise and reward talented first season players.
To be eligible for the 2001 Ansett AFL Rising Star Award, a player must:
1. Be under 21 years on or before 31 December 2000
2. Not have played more than ten (10) senior AFL premiership season/finalsseries games before the commencement of the 2001 season.
3. Not have been suspended by the AFL or respective State League Tribunals during the 2001premiership season.
Note:
i) As with the Brownlow Medal, players found guilty of certain offences who were fined or reprimanded by a tribunal remain eligible to win the Ansett AFL Rising Star Award.
ii) Players who have been suspended remain eligible for a weekly nomination but cannot win the award.
iii) Any player who has been nominated for the Ansett AFL Rising Star Award in previous seasons but who still satisfies all the criteria is eligible to be nominated again in 2001. The Ansett AFL Rising Star Award for 2001 will be voted on by a panel consisting of Kevin Bartlett, Rod Austin, Gerard Healy, Neil Kerley, Robert Walls, Chris Mainwaring, Andrew Demetriou and Wayne Jackson as non-voting Chairman.
