Hawthorn's Michael Osborne is the National AFL Rising Star round six nominee.

From Labrador in the AFLQ, Osborne has been on the Hawthorn rookie list for two years and has travelled a long road to senior football. He played two senior games in 2001 and his 2002 year was beset with poor luck with injury, culminating in post-season surgery on his thumb.

In a bid to turn around his career in 2003, Osborne was a lively performer at pre-season training and worked hard on his ball-handling and kicking skills.

Hawthorn recruiting manager John Turnbull said earlier this season: "We're comfortable in providing Michael with a lifeline. He is determined to build on his AFL appearances and he will add to our depth. He will need to really grasp this further opportunity".

His solo move from Labrador, Queensland, to Glenferrie Oval would have been an understandably daunting one at just 18 years of age. He spent his first season at the club living with his aunt.

Melbourne-born but Brisbane-bred, Osborne grew up among rugby fans. He pursued the less-common Australian code however, and won the McLean medal as the best and fairest player in the National AFL Under 16 Championships. Having then played for Queensland in the National AFL Under 18 Championships, he was a member of the AIS/AFL Academy in 1999 before completing a preseason with the Hawks in 2001.

The Brisbane Lions subsequently offered him a place on their rookie list as a preference, effectively disallowing his drafting by the other 15 clubs. He politely declined however, and was named on Hawthorn's rookie list in 2001.

In round 21, 2001, he and Robert Campbell (now on the senior list) were promoted from the rookie list and taken to Adelaide, finding out he was named in the final side as the squad boarded the bus bound for Football Park.

Osborne was elevated to the Hawthorn senior list in March 2003 following the delisting of Glen Bowyer.