Lonie, 18, disposed of the ball 16 times and delivered it three times from defence on Friday night's match against Richmond. Having made a convincing start to the season during the Ansett Cup, Lonie has played all four home and away matches.
Drafted at No. 34 in the 2000 AFL National Draft, Lonie has shown himself to be a hard running, exciting, left-foot kick. Playing in the half-back he has regularly been sought out by his teammates to dispose of the ball.
A key player in the Victoria Metro team and a member of the AIS/AFL Academy, Lonie showed outstanding form last season with the Dandenong Stingrays.
Lonie's performance in Round four has confirmed his enormous potential, backed by his efforts in Round three against the Western Bulldogs, when he was also one of Collingwood's best players.
The AFL Rising Star Award:
The AFL Rising Star Award was introduced in 1993 to recognise and reward talented first season players.
Last week the AFL announced Ansett Australia as the new sponsor until 2006.
To be eligible for the 2001 Ansett AFL Rising Star Award, a player
must:
1. Be under 21 years on or before 31 December 2000;
2. Not have played more than ten (10) senior AFL premiership season/finals series games before the commencement of the 2001 season;
3. Not have been suspended by the AFL or respective State League Tribunals during the 2001premiership season.
Note:
i) As with the Brownlow Medal, players found guilty of certain offences who were fined or reprimanded by a tribunal remain eligible to win the Ansett AFL Rising Star Award.
ii) Players who have been suspended remain eligible for a weekly nomination but cannot win the award.
iii) Any player who has been nominated for the Ansett AFL Rising Star Award in previous seasons but who still satisfies all the criteria is eligible to be nominated again in 2001.
The Ansett AFL Rising Star Award for 2001 will be voted on by a panel consisting of Kevin Bartlett, Rod Austin, Gerard Healy, Neil Kerley, Robert Walls, Chris Mainwaring, Andrew Demetriou and Wayne Jackson as non-voting Chairman.
