YOUNG Swan Jesse Dattoli has been rewarded for his breakout game against Port Adelaide with a Telstra AFL Rising Star nomination for round 22.

Dattoli, a first-round pick in 2024, played just three senior games last year and had been forced to spend this year in the VFL as the likes of Malcolm Rosas and Billy Cootee were selected ahead of him.

But the 20-year-old took advantage of a rare chance on Saturday evening, finishing with 23 disposals, seven marks, 10 score involvements and the first two goals of his AFL career.

Dattoli played predominantly forward but also pushed up the ground and attended some centre bounces late in the game, showing his versatility.

The young Victorian has now put his name forward for a lengthy stint in the star-studded Swans side and possibly a role in finals next month.

"I loved seeing him being the last kick at times inside forward 50 and then the one on the end of the kick inside forward 50," expert Kate McCarthy said on AFL.com.au's The Round So Far.

"He showed a lot, this young man, and I think he's waited a while to get his opportunity this season.

"I think it's going to take a lot to get the spot back off him now. That was an impressive performance.

"Rosas is out of the team. I would think you'd be hard-pressed to see Dattoli not in that side for the rest of the season if he continues to perform in that manner."

It is Sydney's first Rising Star nomination in almost two full seasons, with Matt Roberts the last Swan to be nominated, in Opening Round, 2024.

2026 Telstra AFL Rising Star nominees

Opening Round: Leo Lombard (Gold Coast)
Round one: Jagga Smith (Carlton)
Round two: Jobe Shanahan (West Coast)
Round three: Willem Duursma (West Coast)
Round four: Cooper Trembath (North Melbourne)
Round five: Jacob Farrow (Essendon)
Round six: Phoenix Gothard (Greater Western Sydney)
Round seven: Sam Grlj (Richmond)
Round eight: Jack Whitlock (Port Adelaide)
Round nine: Sullivan Robey (Essendon)
Round 10: Josh Lindsay (West Coast)
Round 11: Patrick Retschko (Richmond)
Round 12: Harry Dean (Carlton)
Round 13: Cooper Hynes (Western Bulldogs)
Round 14: Jasper Alger (Richmond)
Round 15: Jai Murray (Gold Coast)
Round 16: Ty Gallop (Brisbane)
Round 17: Zeke Uwland (Gold Coast)
Round 18: Riley Hamilton (Greater Western Sydney)
Round 19: Dyson Sharp (Essendon)
Round 20: Talor Byrne (Carlton)
Round 21: Mitch Edwards (Geelong)
Round 22: Jesse Dattoli (Sydney)