1. Dyson Heppell (Essendon)
Games: 22
Nominated: round one (20 possessions v Western Bulldogs)
Has been a favourite for the NAB AFL Rising Star pretty much before the season started. After starring in the NAB Cup, Heppell was brought in to the Essendon team for the opening round and earned a nomination in his first game, which was a win over the Western Bulldogs.
Heppell's poise under pressure and clean kicking justified his early Rising Star favouritism and his stocks only lifted as the season progressed.
If he does win the award he would be the fourth player to win after receiving an opening round nomination. Paul Hasleby (2000), Sam Mitchell (2003) and Daniel Rich (2009) were the others.
Coach James Hird had said he wanted to rest Heppell at some stage of the year but couldn't because he seemed to improve with every game.
"We'd like to give him a rest somewhere along the line but every game seems to be more important than the last one," Hird said in July.
Heppell went on to play all 22 home and away games for the year.
2. Luke Shuey (West Coast)
Games: 22
Nominated: round two (27 possessions, three goals v Port Adelaide)
After two injury-affected seasons on West Coast's list, Shuey showed what he is capable of with a blistering performance in 2011.
Much like his team, Shuey improved significantly to establish himself in the West Cost midfield. At the start of the year he may have simply been a promising young player but by the end he was a crucial part of the engine room.
His 2011 highlight came in round nine when he had 27 touches and kicked five goals in West Coast's thumping win over the Western Bulldogs.
Shuey's path to the AFL has been tinged with sadness as his sister Melanie was killed when struck by a motorcycle while crossing a Melbourne street in early 2009, just months after her brother was drafted by the Eagles.
3. Zac Smith (Gold Coast)
Games: 20
Nominated: round seven (22 possessions, 17 hit-outs)
It's hard to think back to anyone who has been a No. 1 ruckman in their first year at AFL level.
But it has been a role embraced by Zac Smith who has probably been the standout Gold Coast debutant this season.
Smith was largely expected to be an understudy to Josh Fraser, but quickly proved himself to be more than capable leading the charge himself. His body work and athleticism caught the eye of many in the football world and he is already being hailed as one of the most exciting young players in the game.
One glimpse of his freakish athleticism and ball skills came when a mistimed handpass landed at his feet in the round seven win over the Brisbane Lions. He calmly soccered it along to a waiting Brandon Matera who goaled.
Smith, who is a born and bred Queenslander, had originally set his sights on a soccer career before he was introduced to football in his teens.
4. Sam Reid (Sydney Swans)
Games: 21
Nominated: round 12 (two goals)
Strong marking and high leaping, Reid missed just one game for the Swans this year and quickly became a crucial part of their forward set-up.
He played just the one senior game last year, but was part of every match this season except for the round 24 win over the Brisbane Lions. His 205cm wingspan and incredible athleticism has drawn some comparisons with Hawthorn star Lance Franklin at the same age, while Swans coach John Longmire has made public his hopes for Reid to develop into a power forward in the mould of Magpie Travis Cloke.
The younger brother of Collingwood's Ben Reid has established his own identity and is sure to go close in the voting for this year's NAB AFL Rising Star award after holding down a key-position spot in a strong team.
What counts against him is the fact that, like the Brownlow, it is seen as largely a midfielder's award with no tall forward winning it since Nick Riewoldt in 2002.
5. David Swallow (Gold Coast)
Games: 21
Nominated: round 14 (21 disposals, two goals)
Typically the No. 1 draft pick is the pre-season Rising Star favourite, but there was a very strong argument for Swallow at the start of the year after he finished fourth in the VFL's best and fairest award in 2010.
So he arrived with big expectations to live up to and it came as a surprise that it took 14 weeks for him to be nominated. His consistency stood out in such a young team, as did his pace off the mark and ability to read the play.
He received the ultimate compliment from brilliant Brisbane Lions midfielder Simon Black before the season began when the Brownlow medallist compared Swallow's hard running and work ethic to that of another Brownlow medallist, Ben Cousins.
Coach Guy McKenna also said Swallow was neck and neck with Chris Judd at the same age.
His body development and maturity is beyond his years and he looks set for a long and distinguished career with the Suns.
If he does win the award, he will join Justin Koschitzke as the latest in-season nominee to claim the prize. Like Swallow, in 2001 it took Koschitzke 14 rounds before he was nominated.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
