Sydney Swans midfielder Kieren Jack was today named at the Round Four NAB AFL Rising Star nominee.
In only his sixth AFL match, Kieren was one of the Swans’ best players in their 62-point win over West Coast at ANZ Stadium Saturday night.
The 20-year old midfielder, who is often given tagging roles, held his experienced opponent, Daniel Kerr, to 15 possessions. Before Saturday's game, Kerr had averaged 28 possessions in 2008.
With nine tackles, Kieren’s defensive play was also a highlight.
Kieren was rookie-drafted to the Swans in December 2005 and promoted to the primary list last year.
The son of rugby league legend Garry Jack, Kieren’s rise as an AFL player has attracted much interest in northern states.
Kieren was 12 when he first experienced Australian football in the Sydney AFL schools program the Paul Kelly Cup. For the next three years he played Australian football on Saturdays and rugby league with the Balmain juniors on Sundays. He was 15 when he when decided to focus on pursuing an AFL career.
Kieren represented NSW/ACT in the 2004 and 2005 NAB AFL Under 18 Championships (he was captain in 2005) and hails from the Pennant Hills Australian Football Club in North-West Sydney.
Coach Paul Roos said Kieren’s achievements have been extraordinary.
“We rate Daniel Kerr as one of the top half-dozen players in the competition and it is a testament to Kieren’s season that we gave him the job on him on Saturday night," Roos said.
“He did an outstanding job not only curbing Daniel on the night but giving us plenty of drive, a well deserved nomination.”
