Lewis Taylor from the Brisbane Lions is the 2014 NAB AFL Rising Star.
Lewis won with 39 votes, one vote ahead of the Western Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli in the closest ever Rising Star count since the Award’s inception in 1993.
He received the Ron Evans Medal, a $20,000 Private Wealth Investment portfolio and access to a dedicated personal banker, courtesy of the National Australia Bank, at a function held in Melbourne today.
The 19-year-old midfielder made his debut for the Lions in Round One this year and played every game.
He was one of only two nominated players (the other being the Sydney Swans' Harry Cunningham) and one of only three Brisbane players to play every match this season, averaging 84 percent time-on-ground.
Of the 23 nominees, Lewis had the most disposals (371), the third-most score involvements (86) and fifth-most contested possessions (109).
Lewis’ averages included 17 disposals, five contested and 12 uncontested possessions, four marks, two inside 50s and two tackles. He kicked 12 goals.
He was nominated for the NAB AFL Rising Star in Round Nine against North Melbourne.
He was selection 28 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft. He was recruited from Terang-Mortlake Football in Western Victoria and the Geelong Falcons.
Lewis captained Vic Country in the 2013 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and was named in the 2013 Under-18 All-Australian team. He was a member of the 2012 AIS-AFL Academy – Level Two squad.
National Australia Bank’s CEO, Andrew Thorburn, congratulated the Brisbane Lions' Lewis Taylor, along with all the 2014 NAB AFL Rising Star nominees.
“The NAB AFL Rising Star Award is recognition of Lewis’ years of hard work and for his talent, passion, ambition, dedication and self-discipline.
“At NAB, we know football is important to our customers and the community - and is central to the fabric of Australian society.
"As a partner of the AFL for over a decade, we are proud to help grow the game and to help young leaders, both on and off the field, realise their potential," said Mr Thorburn.
Lewis is the fourth Brisbane Lions player to win the award following Nathan Buckley (then Brisbane Bears) 1993, Chris Scott (then Brisbane Bears) 1994 and Daniel Rich 2009.
The NAB AFL Rising Star is voted on by the All-Australian selection panel: Gillon McLachlan (chairman), Mark Evans, Danny Frawley, Warren Tredrea, Glen Jakovich, Cameron Ling, Luke Darcy, Matthew Richardson, Kevin Bartlett and Kevin Sheehan (Rising Star selector only).
2014 Voting
Lewis Taylor 39 Brisbane Lions
Marcus Bontempelli 38 Western Bulldogs
Luke McDonald 32 North Melbourne
James Aish 19 Brisbane Lions
Kade Kolodjashnij 7 Gold Coast Suns
Luke Dunstan 5 St Kilda
Tom Langdon 5 Collingwood
Harry Cunningham 3 Sydney Swans
Josh Kelly 1 GWS Giants
Jarman Impey 1 Port Adelaide
The selectors’ votes were as follows:
Gillon McLachlan
5 – Lewis Taylor
4 – Marcus Bontempelli
3 – Luke McDonald
2 – James Aish
1 – Harry Cunningham
Mark Evans
5 – Lewis Taylor
4 – Marcus Bontempelli
3 – James Aish
2 – Luke Dunstan
1 – Harry Cunningham
Danny Frawley
5 – Lewis Taylor
4 – Marcus Bontempelli
3 – Luke McDonald
2 – Kade Kolodjashnij
1 – Harry Cunningham
Warren Tredrea
5 – Luke McDonald
4 – Marcus Bontempelli
3 – Lewis Taylor
2 – Kade Kolodjashnij
1 – Jarman Impey
Glen Jakovich
5 – Lewis Taylor
4 – James Aish
3 – Marcus Bontempelli
2 – Luke McDonald
1 – Luke Dunstan
Cameron Ling
5 – James Aish
4 – Luke McDonald
3 – Tom Langdon
2 – Marcus Bontempelli
1 – Luke Dunstan
Luke Darcy
5 – Marcus Bontempelli
4 – Luke McDonald
3 – Lewis Taylor
2 – Kade Kolodjashnij
1 – James Aish
Matthew Richardson
5 – Lewis Taylor
4 – Marcus Bontempelli
3 – Luke McDonald
2 – James Aish
Kevin Bartlett
5 – Luke McDonald
4 – Lewis Taylor
3 – Marcus Bontempelli
2 – James Aish
1 – Luke Dunstan
Kevin Sheehan
5 – Marcus Bontempelli
4 – Lewis Taylor
3 – Luke McDonald
2 – Tom Langdon
1 – Kade Kolodjasnij
The NAB AFL Rising Star is the pinnacle 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
• NAB AFL Academy
• NAB AFL Under-16 Championships
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