THE top honour might have gone begging yesterday but it’s still been a stellar season for TAC Cup graduates in the AFL.
Gold Coast Suns ace Jaeger O’Meara, who hails from Perth, was yesterday crowned the NAB AFL Rising Star for 2013.
The classy midfielder was a clear winner on 44 votes, 13 ahead of Adelaide’s Brad Crouch.
Crouch (North Ballarat Rebels) was the leading former TAC Cup player, making an immediate impression on the AFL in his debut season with the Crows. The hard-nut was selected in the GWS Mini Draft for 17-year-olds in 2011 but was ineligible to play in the Crows' senior side last year due to his age.
Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines, a Bendigo Pioneers export, was third on 26 votes after playing an important role in the Power’s climb up the ladder this year.
Wines starred with 24 disposals in his Round 1 debut to secure the first NAB Rising Star Nomination of 2013.
Twelve former TAC Cup players were nominated throughout the year, with North Melbourne defender Aaron Mullett (Eastern Rangers), Richmond’s Nick Vlastuin (Northern Knights) and GWS’ No.1 Draft Pick Lachie Whitfield (Dandenong Stingrays) all receiving votes from the eight judges.
Last Modified on 05/09/2013 11:23
