ADELAIDE'S slim collection of NAB AFL Rising Star nominees has grown with defender Sam Shaw earning this week's nomination.

Shaw has become just the 19th Adelaide player to earn a nomination in the award's 19-year history.

No AFL club (with the obvious exceptions of Gold Coast, GWS and Fitzroy) has fewer nominations over that same period.

Shaw has joined teammate Daniel Talia in the 2012 batch of nominees, with both getting the nod in their third season in the AFL system.

The two defenders arrived at the club at the 2009 NAB AFL Draft, with Shaw the 45th pick overall - 33 selections after Talia.

A third Victorian teenager was taken at the same draft, but while Jack Gunston returned home after two years to don the gold and brown of Hawthorn, Talia and Shaw look set to be key pillars of defence for Adelaide for years to come.

Shaw arrived at Adelaide as a mid-sized defender and has battled for consistency while trying to overcome shin and back injuries.

He has played 10 games this season but his injury troubles have not completely subsided - he was forced out of the team after a ball kicked GWS midfielder Tom Scully left him with bleeding behind the eye.

After three weeks on the sidelines, Shaw returned to hold down a spot in the Adelaide back six and has already committed himself to the club, signing a contract until the end of 2014.

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