THE 2019 NAB AFL Rising Star winner will be revealed at around 2.30pm-3pm AEST on Friday.

The event is on at the Victoria Pavilion in the Melbourne Showgrounds. The venue was changed at the last minute after engineers discovered the dock at Central Pier had rapidly deteriorated and was considered no longer safe.

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Carlton's Sam Walsh is the overwhelming favourite to take home the Ron Evans Medal, however, it has been an outstanding year for the AFL's youngest stars with Port Adelaide pair Connor Rozee and Xavier Duursma, Richmond's Sydney Stack, Geelong's Gryan Miers, Sydney's Nick Blakey, plus several others, all making their mark in 2019.

Reporter Ben Collins looks at the nominees.

Round one: Bailey Scott (North Melbourne)

In the Kangaroos' 82-point hammering from Fremantle at Optus Stadium, the father-son debutant was the only real positive with 21 possessions at 90.5 per cent efficiency and drifting forward to kick two of their nine goals. 

Round two: Charlie Constable (Geelong)

The big midfielder starred in the 80-point drubbing of Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium. In just 69 per cent game time he amassed 31 possessions (behind only Cats superstar Patrick Dangerfield's 37) and nailing a long set shot.

Round three: Connor Rozee (Port Adelaide)

The brilliant forward became the youngest Power player to kick five goals in a game while also having 21 possessions (11 contested) and 13 score involvements in a losing team against Brisbane at the Gabba.

 

Round four: Sam Walsh (Carlton)

In a last-gasp defeat to eventual wooden spooner Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium, Walsh was his then-winless team's best player with 28 possessions (13 contested), seven clearances, six tackles, a game-high seven score involvements and a goal.

Carlton v West Coast Eagles

Round five: Jack Petruccelle (West Coast)

The eight-game speedster was the Eagles' only real avenue to goal in a shock 42-point loss to Port Adelaide at home, bagging five of their eight goals in the wet in a brilliant 18-possession effort.

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Round six: Xavier Duursma (Port Adelaide)

In a 16-point win over North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval, the superbly skilled Power runner snared a career-high 24 possessions (including 12 contested) and a goal, after which he unleashed what is now his trademark bow-and-arrow goal celebration.

 

Round seven: Cameron Zurhaar (North Melbourne)

The bull-at-a-gate forward tallied a game-high 5.2 – the two behinds being posters – to form a powerful combination with spearhead Ben Brown (four) in a 58-point win over Carlton at Marvel Stadium.

Round eight: Gryan Miers (Geelong)

The dreadlocked small forward enjoyed his third 20-plus-disposal game in succession, winning 22 possessions, kicking 1.3 and having seven score involvements to be a key part of a 24-point win over North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.

Round nine: Bailey Smith (Western Bulldogs)

The Bulldogs' top draftee was one of his team's best players in a 44-point loss to Geelong at GMHBA Stadium with 28 possessions (the third-most afield), including 10 contested possessions, along with five clearances (including three from centre bounces).

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Round 10: Liam Baker (Richmond)

The little man revelled in the wet in a victory over Essendon at the MCG, gathering career-high tallies of possessions (24), contested possessions (12) and tackles (nine – which was also a game-high effort), and he also kicked a goal.

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Round 11: Sydney Stack (Richmond)

The first-year sensation was among the Tigers' few shining lights in a 37-point loss to North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium with 24 possessions – the second-most for Richmond – including 11 contested possessions, along with four tackles.

 

Round 12: Tarryn Thomas (North Melbourne)

The classy Tasmanian playmaker kicked two smart first-quarter goals to help set up a 27-point win over Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium. He finished with 12 possessions (10 contested).

Round 13: Dylan Clarke (Essendon)

A week after nullifying Carlton superstar Patrick Cripps, the disciplined Don kept Hawthorn star Jaeger O'Meara to 24 touches and five clearances while having 23 possessions (12 contested) and five clearances himself to help the Bombers to victory.

Round 14: Nick Blakey (Sydney)

The key forward prospect had been quiet to three-quarter time against Hawthorn at the SCG but kicked two important goals, the first after taking a screamer and the second to ice the game.

Sydney v Hawthorn

Round 15: Jordan Clark (Geelong)

The flexible runner was one of the best players afield in the Cats' 27-point win over Adelaide at GMHBA Stadium with a personal-best 23 possessions (eight contested) and a goal in an eye-catching effort on the wing.

Round 16: Nick Larkey (North Melbourne)

The third-year key forward was instrumental in a 39-point win over St Kilda at Blundstone Arena, booting a career-high five goals, including three goals in just nine minutes either side of quarter-time.

Round 17: Shai Bolton (Richmond)

The speedster's transformation from a forward into a midfielder was on full display in a 27-point win over Greater Western Sydney on a wet MCG when he accumulated 29 disposals, four clearances and a goal. 

Round 18: Mitchell Lewis (Hawthorn)

For the second successive week, the promising key forward kicked three of the Hawks' 12 goals and had a huge impact with his contested marking and general presence, this time against League leader Geelong at the MCG.

Hawthorn v Fremantle

Round 19: Ben King (Gold Coast)

The 202cm forward showcased his enormous potential in the shattering last-minute loss to Essendon at Metricon Stadium, marking strongly and bagging a game-high four goals, including three in the last quarter.

Round 20: Noah Answerth (Brisbane)

In the Lions' home victory over the Western Bulldogs, the hard-working defender locked down on an opponent while collecting 18 possessions (eight contested), seven of which came from interceptions, along with six marks (one contested), three clearances and three score involvements.

Round 21: Oscar Allen (West Coast)

The blond Eagle showcased his extraordinary versatility and athleticism when he slotted an equal team-high three goals – also an equal career-high haul – in an important 10-point win over Adelaide at Optus Stadium. Also laid six tackles, had five hitouts and set up another goal.

 

Round 22: Josh Battle (St Kilda)

The third-year Saints swingman once again showed the benefits of his transformation from attack to defence, gathering 16 possessions (seven contested), four marks (one contested) and a career-high 11 one-percenters in a loss to Carlton at the MCG.

Round 23: Brent Daniels (Greater Western Sydney)

The Giants little man joined the party in a big win over bottom side Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday, racking up 19 possessions, five inside 50s and seven score involvements, including two goals assists.