NORTH Melbourne has won its first NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for the year, with young defender Gavin Urquhart claiming the honours for round 18.

Urquhart, 20, made his debut this year in round 10 and has held his spot ever since with a string of impressive performances running off half back.

The Rockhampton native was drafted by the club with selection No.21 in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft, and made the move to Victoria where his dad Jim once played under 19s and reserves for Essendon.

Urquhart served a tough apprenticeship in the VFL reserves last year, playing nearly all season for North Ballarat.

But he broke through for his first senior appearance just before the half-way point of this year, and has been a key member of the Roos' defence since.

Urquhart moved to Brisbane when he was 15, and previously played both rugby league and rugby union.

Once taking up Australian Rules, he became a member of the AIS/AFL under 17 Academy squad in 2006, and represented Queensland in the under 18s in 2005-06. He also played in the Morningside Grand Final side in 2006 while playing in the AFLQ.

During his time with the underage teams, Urquhart struggled with injuries including knee problems and osteitis pubis.

In his nine senior games this year he has averaged over 17 possessions a game, with his best return of 22 coming on Saturday night against the Lions.

Urquhart joins Bachar Houli (Essendon), Josh Hill (Western Bulldogs), Rhys Palmer (Fremantle), Kieren Jack (Sydney), Ben McKinley (West Coast), Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn), Austin Wonaeamirri (Melbourne), Kurt Tippett (Adelaide), Garrick Ibbotson (Fremantle), Nathan Brown (Collingwood), Matthew Kreuzer (Carlton), Trent Cotchin (Richmond), Jarryd Morton (Hawthorn), Colin Garland (Melbourne), Jack Riewoldt (Richmond), Kyle Reimers (Essendon) and Brett Ebert (West Coast) as contenders for this year's prize.

 To see the form that won Urquhart the nomination, click here.