Lewis Taylor from the Brisbane Lions is the 2014 NAB AFL Rising Star.
Taylor 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. North Melbourne's Luke McDonald was third and Brisbane's James Aish finished fourth.
Adelaide's only nominee was Matt Crouch. He did not poll a vote but only played eight AFL games and will still be eligible for nomination next year.
Taylor 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.
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
