EVERY week draft guru Callum Twomey will rank the five best NAB AFL Rising Star nominees in each round from 1993, the first year of the award, to 2019. This week we name the best round-seven nominees from history.
THE FIRST two winners of the NAB AFL Rising Star award were both Brisbane players nominated in round seven of their respective seasons.
Nathan Buckley claimed the first ever Rising Star in 1993, before Chris Scott followed him the next year. The pair are now adversaries in the Collingwood and Geelong coaches boxes.
There have not been any other overall winners to emerge from round seven nominees, but some all-time great players are among the recipients. Both Buckley and Scott feature in AFL.com.au's top five round seven nominees, in what is a star-studded group.
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During the COVID-19 shutdown period, we have been reflecting and ranking each round's best nominees, judging the players based on the totality of their careers and not just in the performances in the game or season they were nominated.
Port Adelaide premiership ruckman Brendon Lade was one who missed out on this group narrowly, while two-time premiership Tiger Nick Vlastuin and Greater Western Sydney captain Stephen Coniglio could also have made cases to break into the list.
Tom Scully, Jack Ziebell, Brent Staker, Xavier Clarke and Dean Rioli are other round seven nominees.
TOP FIVE ROUND SEVEN NAB AFL RISING STAR NOMINEES
No.5: Chris Scott (Brisbane)
Nominated: 1994 (1st place overall)
Scott debuted in 1994 and went on to claim the NAB AFL Rising Star award as one of the leading young defenders in the competition. He grew with the blossoming Lions outfit and played in Brisbane's first two premierships before retiring at the end of 2007. He was a feisty, ferocious and aggressive backman who endured his share of injuries.
No.4: Brendon Goddard (St Kilda)
Nominated: 2003 (Did not place)
St Kilda's No.1 pick had 20 disposals in his fourth AFL game which saw him receive his Rising Star nomination. Goddard went on to have a brilliant career with the Saints, being a key player in their rise to back-to-back Grand Finals in 2009-10 as an attacking half-back/midfielder. He finished his career at Essendon with 334 games to his name.
No.3: Warren Tredrea (Port Adelaide)
Nominated: 1998 (3rd place overall)
In Port's second season it uncovered the centre half-forward of its next decade. Tredrea kicked 33 goals in 1998, including an amazing haul of eight against Carlton in round seven when he claimed his Rising Star nomination. Tredrea went on to lead Port's forward line, finishing with 549 goals from 255 games, including captaining its 2004 flag.
No.2: Brad Johnson
Nominated: 1995 (Only winner was announced; did not win)
The Dogs' games record holder (364 games) was a staple in the forward line and midfield for 17 seasons. Johnson was a three-time winner of the club's best and fairest, its leading goalkicker five times, a six-time Virgin Australia All Australian (once as captain) and skippered the Dogs for four seasons.
No.1: Nathan Buckley (Brisbane)
Nominated: 1993 (1st place overall)
Buckley had 28 disposals in the game he won his Rising Star nomination 27 years ago, and he went on to claim the award in its first season. His average of 23 disposals started his run as one of the competition's leading midfielders. Buckley had a magnificent career, leaving Brisbane for Collingwood after his Rising Star season and becoming a Magpies champion, winning six best and fairests, the 2002 Norm Smith medal and 2003 Brownlow Medal.
