Jake Lloyd from the Sydney Swans is the Round 21 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee.
The 20-year-old midfielder gathered 21 possessions, 10 marks and seven tackles in the Swans’ win over St Kilda at the SCG on Saturday.
Jake made his AFL debut against Fremantle at the SCG in Round five and has played every game (15 games) since.
His season highlights include 29 possessions against the Brisbane Lions in Round Seven and seven tackles against the West Coast Eagles in Round 16.
Jake played two NAB Cup games in 2012 and then played the entire season playing for the Swans Reserves in the NEAFL. He averaged 28 possessions a game and finished a great year as one of the side’s best in the Eastern Conference Grand Final and was named in the NEAFL Team of the Year.
Jake Lloyd is available for interview tomorrow,
Tuesday, August 19 at 10am
Outside the Sydney Swans office
Driver Ave, Moore Park
Sydney Swans coach John Longmire said Jake has worked hard to work his way into the team’s settled midfield line-up.
“He’s always been an elite runner and ball getter and he’s improved the other aspects of his game and he’s gotten to the stage that he’s been able to come into the senior team and play on a really consistent basis," he said.
“He’s able to play a number of different roles for us and it’s a good acknowledgement of his form to date that he’s been able to get a Rising Star nomination.
“He plays up forward, he plays wing, he can play inside and he can play half back and as we have seen he can come off the bench in the sub role and be able to get plenty of the ball as well.
“To be able to have those different strings to your bow like he’s got is very handy because we want players who are flexible and who can play a number of different roles," Longmire said.
Jake was selection 16 in the 2012 NAB AFL Rookie Draft. He was upgraded to the Sydney Swans senior list on April 17, 2014.
He played senior football with Horsham Demons in country Victoria from the age of 16 and played in four successive premierships.
He joined North Ballarat and played in the TAC Cup in 2011 and 2012. He was awarded the TAC Coaches Award in 2012.
Jake was also talented junior basketballer and represented Vic Country as a teenager.
Jake is the second Swan to be nominated this season following Harry Cunningham in Round 15.
Following each round of the home and away season, a panel of judges will select a NAB AFL Rising Star nominee. At the completion of the season, one of these nominees will be chosen as the 2014 NAB AFL Rising Star.
The 2014 NAB AFL Rising Star winner will be awarded the Ron Evans Medal and a $20,000 personal investment folio and a dedicated personal banker, courtesy of NAB.
NAB continues to grow the game by recognising the junior clubs that helped foster the early careers of the nominated players. Each of the 23 clubs will receive a NAB Club Recognition Award valued at $2,500, comprising financial and practical resources. Since supporting the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, NAB has donated over $660,000 worth of resources to junior football clubs through this initiative.
The NAB AFL Rising Star is part of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfil their dream of playing in the AFL.
NAB has been Footifying Australia since 2002 through the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program which comprises the following elements:
- NAB AFL Rising Star
- NAB AFL Draft
- NAB AFL Draft Combine
- NAB AFL Under-18 Championships
- NAB AFL Academy
- NAB AFL Under-16 Championships
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