James Aish from the Brisbane Lions Football Club is the Round Six NAB AFL Rising Star nominee.
James debuted in Round One and has played all six matches this year. His nomination came after his first win as a Lion, which was also the club’s first victory this season.
The 18-year-old midfielder played an important role in the Lions’ three-point win over the Saints in Wellington last Friday finishing the game with 25 possessions, four tackles and a goal.
James Aish is available for interview tomorrow:
Tuesday April 29 at 12.00pm at the Gabba
Media wishing to attend should arrive at Gate 2, Stanley Street from 11.45am
Brisbane Lions coach Justin Leppitsch said James stepped up and had played a solid game.
“It’s a great acknowledgment for the hard work and effort which James has put in.
“James is a tremendous young man and his ability to make an immediate impact at AFL level has been impressive,” he said.
James was the Lions’ first selection, (selection seven overall) in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft.
James was originally recruited from Payneham Norwood Union and played 24 games with Norwood, including the 2012 and 2013 SANFL premiership teams. He broke a SANFL record by becoming the youngest Norwood player in 134 years to debut at league level at just 16 years of age.
He is the son of former Norwood midfielder Andrew Aish, the nephew of 1981 Magarey Medallist Michael Aish and the grandson of former Norwood captain Peter Aish.
James represented South Australia in both the 2012 and 2013 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and earned All-Australian selection in each of those years.
James is also a graduate of the AFL National Academies. He was in the Level One squad in 2011 and the Level Two squad in 2012.
James is the first Brisbane Lions nominee since Sam Mayes in Round 12, 2013.
Following each round of the home and away season, a panel of judges will select a NAB AFL Rising Star nominee. At the completion of the season, one of these nominees will be chosen as the 2014 NAB AFL Rising Star.
The 2014 NAB AFL Rising Star winner will be awarded the Ron Evans Medal and a $20,000 personal investment folio and a dedicated personal banker, courtesy of NAB.
NAB continues to grow the game by recognising the junior clubs that helped foster the early careers of the nominated players. Each of the 23 clubs will receive a NAB Club Recognition Award valued at $2,500, comprising financial and practical resources. Since supporting the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, NAB has donated over $660,000 worth of resources to junior football clubs through this initiative.
The NAB AFL Rising Star is part of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfil their dream of playing in the AFL.
NAB has been Footifying Australia since 2002 through the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program which comprises the following elements:
- NAB AFL Rising Star
- NAB AFL Draft
- NAB AFL Draft Combine
- NAB AFL Under-18 Championships
- AFL National Academies
- NAB AFL Under-16 Championships
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