AFL.com.au takes a look at Bontempelli, Taylor and some of the other frontrunners tipped to poll strongly in the voting for the Ron Evans Medal.
AFL.com.au writers pick their Rising Star winner
Marcus Bontempelli – Western Bulldogs
Classy and composed, Bontempelli is viewed by many as the marginal favourite to be named this year's NAB AFL Rising Star.
The 192cm 18-year-old possesses the uncanny ability to turn games - evidenced when he kicked the final two goals to sink Melbourne in round 15.
His freakish second major in the dying minutes could yet net him the goal of the year award.
Bontempelli took until the second half of the season to emerge as a contender, which some believe could count against him in the Rising Star voting.
But last year's No.4 draft pick averaged just under 16 disposals and a goal per game in 16 matches and he has the makings of a superstar.
Lewis Taylor – Brisbane Lions
If the Rising Star judges are looking for the most consistently impressive young player this season, Lions small forward Lewis Taylor has to be high in contention.
The 173cm speedster – a member of the 'mozzie squad' alongside Josh Green and Dayne Zorko – played every match in his debut season and averaged a tick under 17 disposals and a goal every other game.
The 19-year-old's highlight reel might not be the equal of Bontempelli's, but he's a smart footballer who rarely wastes a possession.
Taylor, from Terang-Mortlake in Victoria's west, shapes as one of the steals of last year's draft after he was taken at pick No.28.
21 years of the Rising Star award in pictures
Luke McDonald – North Melbourne
As courageous as they come, McDonald wasted little time showing why the Roos were eager to secure him as a father-son selection with pick No.8 in last year's draft.
The tough defender played 20 matches this season, consistently impressing with his bravery backing into oncoming traffic and willingness to get his hands dirty.
McDonald, 19, lacks the flair of some of the other leading contenders but has leadership qualities that few players his age can match.
He averaged better than 17 disposals and almost four marks and three tackles per game in a wonderfully consistent season.
James Aish – Brisbane Lions
Having played two years of senior SANFL football Aish was expected to make light work of the transition to AFL and so it proved.
Last year's No.7 draft pick held down a key midfield role in all but one match for the Lions and found plenty of the footy – averaging better than 17 disposals per game and booting six goals.
Aish, who hails from a family of football royalty in South Australia, ranked in the top five at the Lions for contested possessions and tackles.
He also featured inside the club's top-10 for disposals and inside 50s.
Luke Dunstan – St Kilda
Nominated in round one after a 21-disposal, seven-tackle effort in the Saints' win over Melbourne, Dunstan was among the hot early favourites for the Rising Star award.
A season-ending shoulder injury in round 19 halted the strongly built on-baller's progress, but he ended his debut campaign averaging almost 19 touches per game – many won at the coalface.
Dunstan is held in such high regard by the Saints that he has been given retired champion Lenny Hayes' No.7 guernsey to wear for 2015 and beyond.
