Richmond rookie Robin Nahas has missed out on a potential NAB AFL Rising Star nomination by just seven weeks, following his five-goal performance on the weekend.
The exciting small forward turned 21 on October 10 last year, making him ineligible for the award.
To qualify for the NAB AFL Rising Star nomination, a player must be under 21 years of age as at January 1 of that year and must not have played more than 10 games to the start of that season.
Nahas has been a revelation for the Tigers this year, after securing his chance on the senior list when Kane Johnson succumbed to a knee injury.
He made his debut in Round Two against Geelong at Skilled Stadium, and has kicked nine goals in six matches.
His five-goal haul against Port Adelaide last Sunday was the most kicked by a Richmond player this year, and catapulted him to equal second place on the Tigers’ goalkicking list behind Mitch Morton.
Nahas was snared by Richmond from Port Melbourne in the 2008 Rookie Draft, after winning the Fothergill-Round Medal as the best young player in the VFL last year.
He also represented the VFL against South Australia in Adelaide last year, kicking four goals. He had an outstanding season with runner-up Port Melbourne, kicking 50 goals.
As an 18-year-old, Nahas played for Vic Metro in the National Carnival and represented Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC competition.
Brett Deledio won the AFL’s Rising Star Award in 2003, while Ben Cousins picked up the honour in 1996 playing for West Coast.
WebMail
My BigPond