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AFL Rising Star 2026 | Odds, Nominees & Betting Tips
The AFL Rising Star award recognises the best young talent in the competition each season. At BettingPro, we track Rising Star odds, nominees and betting tips throughout the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership.
AFL Rising Star 2026 Odds
Jagga Smith is the clear Rising Star favourite after a standout season for Carlton, with Willem Duursma his nearest rival. Odds are a guide and move; compare the latest at Ladbrokes, Neds and bet365.
| Player | Club | Rising Star Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Jagga Smith | Carlton | $1.72 |
| Willem Duursma | West Coast Eagles | $3.75 |
| Harry Dean | Carlton | $7.00 |
| Cooper Trembath | North Melbourne | $13.00 |
| Sullivan Robey | Essendon | $41.00 |
Jagga Smith (Carlton) is a short-priced favourite at around $1.83. A top-three 2024 draft pick who missed all of 2025 with a knee injury — keeping his eligibility — Smith took the Round 1 nomination and has led the season-long vote count ever since on the back of consistent inside-midfield output. Willem Duursma (West Coast, ~$4.50), the No.1 draft pick, is the clear second pick, with Carlton’s Harry Dean (~$7) the notable market mover.
At $1.83, Smith offers little outright value, so the interest is in the each-way / top-2 markets or backing Duursma to reel him in. As with any panel-voted award, one hot stretch from a chasing nominee can shorten the market quickly.
Odds are indicative and shift each round — confirm the current price with your bookmaker before betting.
Compare Rising Star odds across Picklebet, Dabble, Neds, Ladbrokes and bet365.
2026 AFL Rising Star Nominees
Every 2026 AFL Rising Star nominee, round by round from Opening Round through Round 19.
| Round | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Round | Leo Lombard | Gold Coast Suns |
| 1 | Jagga Smith | Carlton |
| 2 | Jobe Shanahan | West Coast Eagles |
| 3 | Willem Duursma | West Coast Eagles |
| 4 | Cooper Trembath | North Melbourne |
| 5 | Jacob Farrow | Essendon |
| 6 | Phoenix Gothard | GWS Giants |
| 7 | Sam Grilj | Richmond |
| 8 | Jack Whitlock | Port Adelaide |
| 9 | Sullivan Robey | Essendon |
| 10 | Josh Lindsay | West Coast Eagles |
| 11 | Patrick Retschko | Richmond |
| 12 | Harry Dean | Carlton |
| 13 | Cooper Hynes | Western Bulldogs |
| 14 | Jasper Alger | Richmond |
| 15 | Jai Murray | Gold Coast Suns |
| 16 | Ty Gallop | Brisbane Lions |
| 17 | Zeke Uwland | Gold Coast Suns |
| 18 | Riley Hamilton | GWS Giants |
| 19 | Dyson Sharp | Essendon |
Nominees are added each round through the season. For weekly analysis, see our AFL betting hub.
How the AFL Rising Star Works
The AFL Rising Star award is presented to the best young player in the AFL each season. To be eligible, a player must be under 21 years of age as of January 1 of the current season and have played fewer than 10 senior games before the season started.
Each round, a nominee is selected based on outstanding performance. At the end of the season, a panel of judges votes to determine the overall winner from the pool of nominees.
The award was first presented in 1993 and has launched the careers of some of the AFL’s biggest stars.
Rising Star Betting Markets
Winner: Bet on which nominee will be crowned the overall Rising Star for the season.
Round Nominee: Some bookmakers offer markets on who will be nominated as Rising Star for each round.
Best Bookmakers for AFL Rising Star Betting
All major Australian bookmakers offer AFL Rising Star betting markets throughout the season. Our top picks:
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Exclusive 365AUCODE referral code: bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers.18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
- OnlyBets
- Dabble — Social betting, share and copy bets
- Picklebet — Great odds and same game multi builders
- Ladbrokes — Deep markets and live streaming
- BetNow
- Neds — Competitive odds and user-friendly app
- bet365 — Widest market range globally
For a full comparison, check our best betting sites in Australia guide.
Recent AFL Rising Star Winners
| Year | Player | Team |
| 2025 | Murphy Reid | Fremantle |
| 2024 | Harley Reid | West Coast Eagles |
| 2023 | Harry Sheezel | North Melbourne |
| 2022 | Nick Daicos | Collingwood |
| 2021 | Sam Walsh | Carlton |
| 2020 | Caleb Serong | Fremantle |
| 2019 | Sam Walsh | Carlton |
| 2018 | Jaidyn Stephenson | Collingwood |
| 2017 | Andrew McGrath | Essendon |
AFL Rising Star FAQs
Who is favourite for the 2026 AFL Rising Star?
Jagga Smith (Carlton) is the clear 2026 AFL Rising Star favourite at around $1.83. He took the Round 1 nomination and has led the season-long vote count, ahead of Willem Duursma (West Coast) and Harry Dean (Carlton).
What are the eligibility criteria for the Rising Star?
Players must be under 21 as of January 1 of the season and have played fewer than 10 senior AFL games before the season started.
When is the Rising Star winner announced?
The winner is typically announced during AFL finals week in September, alongside the other major individual awards.
Can a player be nominated more than once?
A player can only be nominated once per season, but they can be nominated in multiple seasons if they remain eligible.
Where can I find Rising Star betting tips?
BettingPro.com.au tracks Rising Star nominees and odds throughout the AFL season. Check our AFL hub for coverage.