A NAB AFL Rising Star nomination is usually the first time a young player is thrust into football's spotlight.

But that's not the case for young Bomber Jake Carlisle, who is the round nine nominee after Saturday night's win over Greater Western Sydney.

Carlisle, who played 10 games before the start of the season, had already featured heavily on AFL highlights packages.

Unfortunately for Carlisle, his screen time was as an unsuspecting step ladder for Carlton's Andrew Walker, who took one of the most memorable marks in recent times last season.

Carlisle has seen the footage as often as any football follower and says the mark may never have happened if he weren't simply following direct instructions.

"I got a bit of advice from coaches that week that when I'm on the small blokes to play in front of them and cut off their lead," Carlisle told AFL.com.au.

"I thought I did everything I could but when the ball went up, I came back, he got a jump and I couldn't do much about it really."

Though not quite as spectacular as Walker's grab, Carlisle contributed to his own highlight reel last week with an impressive performance in the Essendon back line.

Click here to view Jake Carlisle's career stats

The back half has become Carlisle's football home after he arrived at the Bombers at the end of 2009 as a tall forward.

Having spent his first season as a developing forward, Essendon's plans for Carlisle changed as soon as James Hird took over the senior coaching role.

"When he first came here, I was a year into my career and I was a forward so he told me they wanted to try me in defence," Carlisle said.

"He's been big on me playing more of a part in the team and building me up to be more of a man. When I got here he thought I was a little kid so I've grown up and matured a bit."

That maturation has come in both physical and emotional forms. Carlisle has steadily added weight to his wiry frame as well as coming to an understanding of the demands of elite-level football.

"Mentally I didn't think I was ready for it. He (Hird) is all about that sort of stuff, knowing when to switch on and off and doing the right things," he said.

"He's influenced me a lot while he's been here."

Two other significant figures in Carlisle's career have been Essendon premiership defenders Sean Wellman and Dustin Fletcher.

These days Wellman is the Essendon defensive coach, while Fletcher quietly goes about his business in his 20th season of AFL football.

Sixteen years separate Fletcher and Carlisle but the AFL's oldest player has become a mentor to the young Bomber, teaching him how to use his body against bulkier opponents.

"I do a lot of work with him and I've learned a lot from him," he said.

"If there's something that needs to be said he'll let me know and help me out anyway he can. He's great to have there."

Luke Holmesby is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter - @AFL_Luke.