OVER the next few Mondays draft guru Callum Twomey will rank the five best NAB AFL Rising Star nominees in each round from 1993, the first year of the award, to 2019. This week we name the best round-four nominees from history.
ANDREW Walker's famous debut performance caught the attention of the football world back in 2004, and earned the Carlton high-flyer the NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.
But although despite being one of the most brilliant first games of this century, Walker doesn't make AFL.com.au's list of the top five round five nominees of the coveted Rising Star award.
While football faces its COVID-19 shutdown period, we will be reflecting and ranking each round's best nominees.
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The rankings will judge the players based on the totality of their careers and not just the performances in the game they were nominated or that season.
There was a clear top two in the group of round five nominees, with little separating the pair. But outside of our top five were also some players with significant careers, including Sydney premiership pair Nick Davis and Adam Schneider, Essendon flag winner Adam Ramanauskas and former Docker and Saint Heath Black.
Current stars Jaeger O'Meara, Adam Saad, Matt Crouch, Tom Papley and Eric Hipwood have also created a strong recent history in the award's round five recipients.
TOP FIVE ROUND FIVE NAB AFL RISING STAR NOMINEES
No.5: Heath Shaw (Collingwood)
Nominated: 2006 (3rd place overall)
The Magpies defender joined the club via the father-son rule and quickly became a fan favourite, featuring in the club's drought-breaking 2010 premiership. Will finish his career at Greater Western Sydney, having joined at the end of 2014 and been a key player in the club's growth. A 300-gamer and brilliant half-back.
No.4: Adam Simpson (North Melbourne)
Nominated: 1996 (Only winner was announced; did not win)
There isn't much missing from the durable North midfielder's on-field resume. The current West Coast premiership coach went on to play in the Roos' 1996 flag in the year he claimed his Rising Star nomination, becoming a two-time premiership player in 1999. A best-and-fairest winner, Virgin Australia AFL All Australian and club captain.
No.3: Scott West (Western Bulldogs)
Nominated: 1993 (Only winner was announced; did not win)
West was a ball-winner from the beginning, averaging 17 disposals and over a goal a game in his debut season. That rise continued at a sharp pace, with the tough in-and-under Bulldogs midfielder becoming a seven-time club champion in a brilliant 324-game career. A prolific possession winner renowned for his sharp hands.
No.2: Joel Selwood (Geelong)
Nominated:2007 (1st place overall)
Few players have stepped into the AFL and looked as comfortable as Selwood. Credited as a 'culture shaper' from the moment he pulled on the blue and white hoops, Selwood was an important player in the Cats' breakthrough 2007 flag as he claimed the NAB AFL Rising Star award. It was the beginning of a phenomenal career that has spanned 295 games, three flags and nine years as Cats captain.
No.1: Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)
Nominated:2002 (1st place overall)
The St Kilda forward played just six games in his debut season before claiming the Rising Star in his second year, beating out West Coast gun Chris Judd for top honours. He averaged eight marks a game in his Rising Star season, with the No.1 pick going on to be perhaps St Kilda's greatest ever player, registering 336 games, five All-Australian jumpers and six best-and-fairest awards.
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