West Coast forward Andrew McDougall is the round 21 National AFL Rising Star nominee.

McDougall was one of the Eagles’ best on the weekend against Melbourne. He kicked four goals, three in the first term and two from outside 50. The tall ruckman/forward was also impressive during the Eagles’ loss to the Saints in Round 18, kicking two goals.

McDougall has found the form that eluded him for the past two years. Ankle and hamstring injuries kept him from senior selection last year until the final two matches of the season, Round 22 and the elimination final.

The 20 year old was the West Coast Eagles’ first section (fifth overall) in the 2000 National AFL Draft. He was drafted from Perth Football Club/Wesley College.

McDougall made his way to the Eagles via the National AFL Pathway Program. He represented Western Australia in the 1999 National AFL Under 16 Championships and was an AIS/AFL Academy member in 1999/2000.

He won the Barassi Medal for the best Australian player in the Test Series against Ireland in 2000. An outstanding feat when his Academy team-mates included Chris Judd, Daniel Kerr, Xavier Clarke, Ryan and Nathan Lonie.