WEST Coast midfielder Andrew Gaff is the round 19 NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.

Gaff's nomination comes on the back of a 31-possession performance against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Gaff played seven of West Coast's first eight games this season, mostly as a specialist substitute player, and he said he entered the season confident that he could have an early impact at the top level.

Playing as a substitute, he said, has also helped him build form in the latter part of the year.  

"I've been able to run out full games whereas some guys might not be able to in their first year," Gaff said from Patersons Stadium on Tuesday.

"I think playing the first few games as a sub probably has really helped me in the later run this year."  

After he was dropped back to the WAFL for an eight-week period with South Fremantle, Gaff was recalled to the Eagles' team to take on St Kilda in round 17.

Since returning to the team, he has been one of the Eagles' best midfielders, averaging more than 23 possessions and last week had nine inside 50s to be one of the Eagles' best players.

He said midfielder Luke Shuey, who is a frontrunner to win this year's NAB AFL Rising Star award, had helped him settle into life in Perth.

"Luke's been great for me," Gaff said. "He's a fellow Oakleigh boy from back home and he's been fantastic in just giving me a bit of advice.

"He's one of the reasons the Eagles are going so well this year. He's been great to me and also the other younger guys."

Drafted from TAC Cup team Oakleigh Chargers with the fourth overall pick at last year's NAB AFL Draft, Gaff impressed many at the Eagles from the moment he arrived at the club.

He was given the honour of the number 3 jumper, becoming only the third man in the club's history to wear it after premiership captain Chris Judd and the late Chris Mainwaring, who played in the 1992 and 1994 premiership teams.