Brodie Grundy and Marley Williams have both managed to cement themselves in Collingwood’s first choice line-up heading into September and have earned the respect of the Rising Star selection panel.
Williams, who played six games last year, was nominated in round 18 while Grundy, who did not debut until late July, received a nomination in round 22.
The pair will join the cream of the AFL’s junior crop at today’s ceremony.
Brodie Grundy
Nominated in round 22
Debut: Round 18, 2013, v Greater Western Sydney
Drafted: Selection No. 18 in the 2012 National Draft
Junior Club: Unley/Sturt (SANFL)
2013 Games: 6
2013 Goals: 1
Averages: 13.6 disposals, 5.5 kicks, 2.6 marks, 8.1 handballs, 21.0 hitouts, 4.8 hitouts to advantage, 7.6 contested possessions, 2.8 clearances, 0.1 goals
Why he’s impressed: It’s impossible to put a ceiling on what Grundy might achieve. He has looked remarkably comfortable for a 19-year-old ruckman who has come up against and countered opponents the calibre of Dean Cox, Shane Mumford, David Hale, Patrick Ryder and Mike Pyke. His agility, competitiveness, attack on the footy and refusal to be intimidated gave shone through. Those traits, combined with his easy-going and affable nature, have already made him a favourite of the Magpie Army.
Marley Williams
Nominated in round 18
Debut: Round 9, 2012, v Adelaide
Drafted: Selection No. 35 in the 2012 Rookie Draft
Junior Club: North Albany/Claremont (WAFL)
2013 Games: 15
2013 Goals: 1
Averages: 17.0 disposals, 11.3 kicks, 4.2 marks, 5.7 handballs, 3.2 tackles, 2.9 rebound 50s, 5.6 contested possessions, 2.2 bounces, 2.3 spoils
Why he’s impressed: After a six game cameo halfway through last season, Williams made his intentions known in the first four VFL games of the year. He averaged 19.5 disposals, 3.0 rebounds, 5.5 tackles and 2.0 clearances and knocked so hard on the senior side’s door that the match committee had no option but to allow him in. Once promoted, he hasn’t missed a game and has gone about his work in a no fuss, hard at it fashion that has quickly endeared him to the Collingwood faithful. In the absence of Ben Johnson and Alan Toovey, Williams has combined with Ben Sinclair to ensure that the Magpies haven’t been without the pace, hardness and reliability that they have become accustomed to in the back pocket.
The 2013 AFL Rising Star nominees:
Round 1: Oliver Wines (Port Adelaide)
Round 2: Aaron Mullett (North Melbourne)
Round 3: Jed Anderson (Hawthorn)
Round 4: George Horlin-Smith (Geelong)
Round 5: Jaeger O’Meara (Gold Coast)
Round 6: Bradley Hill (Hawthorn)
Round 7: Nick Vlastuin (Richmond)
Round 8: Jackson Macrae (Western Bulldogs)
Round 9: Sam Kerridge (Adelaide)
Round 10: Lachie Whitfield (Greater Western Sydney)
Round 11: Tom Mitchell (Sydney)
Round 12: Sam Mayes (Brisbane)
Round 13: Jake Neade (Port Adelaide)
Round 14: Brad Crouch (Adelaide)
Round 15: Michael Talia (Western Bulldogs)
Round 16: Tom Nicholls (Gold Coast)
Round 17: Adam Tomlinson (Greater Western Sydney)
Round 18: Marley Williams (Collingwood)
Round 19: Zachary Williams (Greater Western Sydney)
Round 20: Rory Laird (Adelaide)
Round 21: Jack Viney (Melbourne)
Round 22: Brodie Grundy (Collingwood)
Round 23: Luke Brown (Adelaide)
Past AFL Rising Star winners:
1993: Nathan Buckley (Brisbane Bears)
1994: Chris Scott (Brisbane Bears)
1995: Nick Holland (Hawthorn)
1996: Ben Cousins (West Coast)
1997: Michael Wilson (Port Adelaide)
1998: Byron Pickett (North Melbourne)
1999: Adam Goodes (Sydney)
2000: Paul Hasleby (Fremantle)
2001: Justin Koschitzke (St Kilda)
2002: Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)
2003: Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
2004: Jared Rivers (Melbourne)
2005: Brett Deledio (Richmond)
2006: Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide)
2007: Joel Selwood (Geelong)
2008: Rhys Palmer (Fremantle)
2009: Daniel Rich (Brisbane)
2010: Dan Hannebery (Sydney)
2011: Dyson Heppell (Essendon)
2012: Daniel Talia (Adelaide)
Collingwood’s Rising Star Nominees (1993-2013)
1993: Sav Rocca (round 13)
1994: Kent Butcher (round eight), Jon Hassall (round 22)
1995: Nil
1996: Andrew Schauble (round seven)
1997: Mal Michael (round 17)
1998: Nil
1999: Nick Davis (round five), Paul Licuria (round 18)
2000: Damien Adkins (round three), Josh Fraser (round six)
2001: Ryan Lonie (round four)
2002: Jason Cloke (round six), Mark McGough (round 10), Alan Didak (round 16)
2003: Richard Cole (round 17), Matthew Lokan (round 22)
2004: Guy Richards (round nine)
2005: Travis Cloke (round 10)
2006: Dale Thomas (round two), Heath Shaw (round five)
2007: Scott Pendlebury (round four), Marty Clarke (round 13), Tyson Goldsack (round 21)
2008: Nathan Brown (round 10)
2009: Jaxson Barham (round four), Brad Dick (round 11), Dayne Beams (round 17)
2010: Ben Reid (round 12)
2011: Alex Fasolo (round 22)
2012: Ben Sinclair (round 11)
2013: Marley Williams (round 18), Brodie Grundy (round 22)
