FIRST-YEAR Western Bulldogs dasher Ed Richards is the round 10 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee.

Richards produced the best performance of his nine-game AFL career on Friday night against Collingwood with 23 disposals (10 contested), eight intercept possessions and five inside 50s.

The 18-year-old defender is the grandson of Magpies premiership player Ron Richards, brother of the legendary Lou Richards, who captained that 1953 Collingwood Grand Final side.

RISING STARS All of this year's nominees

A knee injury in the opening TAC Cup round last year cost him the chance to play for Vic Metro, but he produced a strong finish to the season with Oakleigh Chargers and Carey Grammar.

The Bulldogs ultimately swooped on Richards with the 16th pick, cementing him as a draft bolter.

He had to wait until round two to make his AFL debut, but has played every match since, averaging 15 possessions and 3.2 tackles per game.