NAB AFL Rising Star: round 13

HAWTHORN has received some good news following its second loss for the year, with young forward Jarryd Morton winning the NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for round 13.

Morton, 19, is the second Hawk to be nominated this year, joining Cyril Rioli as two of the club's recognised emerging talents so far this season.

"I actually thought I played a little bit better the previous week against Adelaide," Morton told afl.com.au.

"I think I used the ball a bit better, and obviously we won. But the last five weeks have been good."

The Hawks picked up the young Western Australian at pick 33 in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft. Morton made his senior debut in round nine this year and has held his spot ever since, averaging 22 disposals per game on the wing.

Arriving at Waverley promising himself he had come to "play for Hawthorn, not Box Hill", Morton's 2007 was spoiled by a torn quad muscle midway through the season.

"To finally get the opportunity in the season proper was good, and I feel as though after my first game, I thought I might get another opportunity, and then it sort of just went on from there," Morton said.

"Last year was pretty tough. The injury was right in the middle of the season as well, which made it hard, and Hawthorn at the time had a growing injury list. I wasn't close to playing AFL, but you can't really tell if I'd been fit, if my opportunity would have come earlier than this year."

Determined to bounce back, Morton righted himself for a crack at the big time this year.

"I learned from it," he said. "Most players have setbacks, and to have one in your first year and to learn to deal with it could be good for me for the future.

"Then to see the boys play in the Adelaide game last year in the finals, it made me just think how much I wanted to be out there playing senior footy, and that gave me a bit of fire in the belly to get back."

Morton is the second of three brothers currently on AFL lists, with his older sibling Mitch (21) and younger brother Cale (18) playing for Richmond and Melbourne respectively.

"I feel a lot more comfortable in Melbourne this year, with my brothers moving over," he said.

"I did get a bit homesick last year, but I live with Mitch now, and hopefully the three of us spend the next period of our lives here."

All three brothers are eligible to be nominated for the NAB AFL Rising Star this season.

Morton 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) and Trent Cotchin (Richmond) as contenders for this year's prize.