Rory Laird from the Adelaide Crows is the Round 20 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee.

Laird’s outstanding debut season for the Crows continued on Sunday against North Melbourne at AAMI Stadium - the 19-year-old defender had 24 disposals (14 kicks, 10 handballs and 7 marks) in his side’s nine-point win over the Kangaroos.

As a rookie-listed player at the start of the season, Laird was elevated to the Crows’ senior squad just prior to making his AFL debut in Round 4 and has gone on to play 15 matches for Adelaide, averaging more than 18 possessions a game.

Laird is the third Adelaide player to receive a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination this season, following Sam Kerridge (Round Nine) and Brad Crouch (Round 14). This follows two nominations, defender Sam Shaw and eventual winner Daniel Talia, in 2012.

Only newcomers Greater Western Sydney (11) have had more Rising Star nominations than the Crows (five) in the past two seasons (2012-13).

Adelaide senior coach Brenton Sanderson said Laird had a bright future ahead at the elite level.

“Rory’s had a really good season for a young player. He’s not a ‘sexy’ defender and probably doesn’t stand out in games, but he gets a lot of the footy, makes good decisions and cuts his man out of the play,” Sanderson said.

“Rory is a vital cog in our defence and he’s showed some real class and composure for a rookie-listed player in just his first AFL season. His last quarter against North Melbourne was just exceptional.

“We have been thoroughly impressed with his development and feel he will be a quality player for the Adelaide Football Club for many years to come.”

Last year, the former Kenilworth FC junior was instrumental in West Adelaide reaching the 2012 SANFL Grand Final and despite missing out on Grand Final selection, he was drafted by Adelaide with the Club’s first pick in the 2012 Rookie Draft (5th overall).

Laird was promoted from the Crows’ rookie list following an injury to Sam Shaw earlier in the season and almost immediately made his AFL debut against the Western Bulldogs in Round 4.

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 2013 NAB AFL Rising Star.

The 2013 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 will also recognise 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 $1000, comprising cash and practical resources.

 


NAB Rising Star nominations by club 2012-2013
Adelaide: Daniel Talia, Sam Shaw, Sam Kerridge, Brad Crouch, Rory Laird
Brisbane Lions: Sam Mayes, Claye Beams, Mitch Golby
Carlton: Nil
Collingwood: Marley Williams, Ben Sinclair
Essendon: Jake Carlisle
Fremantle: Nil
Geelong: George Horlin-Smith, Steven Motlop
Gold Coast: Jaeger O’Meara, Tom Nicholls, Josh Caddy
Greater Western Sydney: Lachie Whitfield, Adam Tomlinson, Zac Williams, Jeremy Cameron, Stephen Coniglio, Dylan Shiel, Toby Greene, Adam Treloar, Devon Smith, Dom Tyson, Tomas Bugg
Hawthorn: Jed Anderson, Stephen Hill
Melbourne: Tom McDonald, Sam Blease
North Melbourne: Aaron Mullett
Port Adelaide: Chad Wingard, Ollie Wines, Jake Neade
Richmond: Dylan Grimes, Nick Vlastuin, Brandon Ellis
St Kilda: Arryn Sipposs
Sydney Swans: Tom Mitchell
Western Bulldogs: Jackson Macrae, Michael Talia, Mitch Wallis
West Coast: Nil