ADELAIDE young gun Chloe Bown has earned a much deserved, and long-awaited, Telstra AFLW Rising Star nomination after her outstanding performance in round 10.Â
The Crows took a cheeky jibe at the League on social media last week, reply to Ava Usher's Rising Star nomination on Instagram with 'Chloe Bown must play water polo'.Â
But the 18-year-old has been recognised for another brilliant display, this time in the Crows' 10-point victory against a red-hot Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon.
She finished with 25 disposals (17 of those were contested), nine clearances, six tackles and 377m gained, and capped off her brilliant day with a goal in the final minute to seal the win that keeps Adelaide's finals hopes well and truly alive.
The powerful midfielder has played every game in her debut season, kicking five goals and averaging 15.2 disposals a game.
Taken with pick No.5 in last year's draft, Bown was one of her draft class' most exciting young midfield prospects.
The Oakleigh Chargers product captained the Under-18 All-Australian team, was named Vic Metro's Most Valuable Player at the National Championships and also won the Oakleigh Chargers' best and fairest and the Talent League MVP.
Saturday's statement win against top-four hopefuls Gold Coast was the Cows' second win in a row, and has them sitting in ninth spot on the ladder with two rounds remaining.
They sit behind eighth-placed Fremantle by percentage only and are one of three teams on five wins likely fighting for the last spot in the finals.
Adelaide has a tough run home, facing flag fancies North Melbourne and Melbourne across the final two weeks.Â
2026 Telstra AFLW Rising Star nominees
Round one: Sierra Grieves (Richmond)
Round two: Alannah Welsh (Gold Coast)
Round three: Lauren Young (Port Adelaide)
Round four: Jordyn Allen (Melbourne)
Round five: Jade McLay (St Kilda)
Round six:Â Olivia Wolmarans (Richmond)
Round seven: Dekota Baron (Gold Coast)
Round eight: Ash Centra (Collingwood)
Round nine: Ava Usher (Gold Coast)
Round 10: Chloe Bown (Adelaide)Â
