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RISING STAR TIPS & BETTING ADVICE


The AFL Rising Star award is presented to the best young player in the Australian Football League (AFL) at the end of the home-and-away season. As the name suggests, this accolade is designed to honour the rising stars in the league who are showing the most potential.

At Bettingpro.com.au, we offer ongoing coverage of the Rising Star odds as players are nominated after each round. Our team of expert writers will then analyse the performances of these young prodigies and look ahead to identify who might be on track to win the Rising Star award for the season.

In other words, if you’re looking for the best commentary on this season’s Rising Star contenders, then you’ve come to the right place. We will stay on top of every development throughout the 23-match season as the next footy star is born.

RISING STAR ODDS


Keep up to date with the latest odds for the Rising Star award as we update the betting market each week.

Check out the latest and best 2025 AFL Rising Star awards.

HOW THE RISING STAR WORKS


Players must meet specific criteria to be in contention for the AFL Rising Star award. First and foremost, they must be under the age of 20 on January 1st and have fewer than 10 career AFL appearances before the season begins.

Additionally, a player can only be nominated once per season. Similar to the Brownlow Medal, where sportsmanship is a key factor, any suspension during the home-and-away season automatically disqualifies a player from winning the Rising Star award.

If a player meets this criteria and earns a nomination, their performances throughout the season are then assessed by a voting panel. Specifically, each panel member independently assigns votes—awarding five to the best player, four to the second-best, and so on down to one for the fifth-best. At the end of this process, the player with the highest total votes is crowned the Rising Star winner.

Rising Star Award Betting Tips


The nature of the Rising Star award means that young players can emerge unexpectedly to claim it. From a betting perspective, this presents a unique challenge as there is often limited data or form on which to base an informed bet.

However, our team of professional AFL writers here at Bettingpro.com.au know what it takes to win this award. We’ve witnessed young pretenders come and go, and we know how to spot the next generation of AFL talent. Below, we’ve outlined the key characteristics to look for in the rising stars of the upcoming season.

Rising to the Challenge

Any potential Rising Star winner will be heavily involved in their team’s campaign over the 23-match home-and-away season. Since the award’s inception in 1993, only two players have been crowned Rising Stars while having played fewer than 20 career games at the end of the season. This highlights that emerging AFL stars are often thrown in the deep end at the start of the season, and those who can rise to the challenge—earning a starring spot ahead of more experienced players—are more likely to attract significant votes by the end of the season.

Early Signs

While unexpected Rising Star candidates can emerge from left field, even with a small sample size—fewer than 10 games—great players can often showcase their ability in just a handful of appearances. As a result, they’re expected to shine in the upcoming campaign, which can influence the Rising Star betting odds. This means there’s real value in keeping an eye on which prospects are making waves in the lead-up to a new season.

Forward Thinking

You have to go back to 2017 to find the last time a defender won the Rising Star award. The trend is clear: forwards and midfielders are more likely to be in the running as they boast eye-catching stats like disposals, goals, and, of course, assists. While you should never rule out any player when making your picks, it’s essential to closely monitor where the young offensive threats are coming from, as this often shapes the Rising Star race.

Rising Stars in Rising Teams

It’s equally important to focus on up-and-coming players from teams in the top eight. The narratives surrounding these teams tend to be more positive, with a strong emphasis on how young stars are driving their success or helping to keep them in the finals race. The reality is that emerging players from competitive teams are more likely to be involved in high-profile games, where they have the opportunity to make match-winning contributions when the stakes are high.

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RISING STAR WINNERS


Player

Year

Club

Votes

Nathan Buckley

1993

Brisbane Bears

Unknown

Chris Scott

1994

Brisbane Bears

Unknown

Nick Holland

1995

Hawthorn

Unknown

Ben Cousins

1996

West Coast

Unknown

Michael Wilson

1997

Port Adelaide

27

Byron Pickett

1998

North Melbourne

30

Adam Goodes

1999

Sydney

33

Paul Hasleby

2000

Fremantle

33

Justin Koschitzke

2001

St Kilda

31

Nick Riewoldt

2002

St Kilda

34

Sam Mitchell

2003

Hawthorn

33

Jared Rivers

2004

Melbourne

45

Brett Deledio

2005

Richmond

43

Danyle Pearce

2006

Port Adelaide

43

Joel Selwood

2007

Geelong

44

Rhys Palmer

2008

Fremantle

44

Daniel Rich

2009

Brisbane Lions

45

Dan Hannebury

2010

Sydney

45

Dyson Heppell

2011

Essendon

44

Daniel Talia

2012

Adelaide

43

Jaeger O’Meara

2013

Gold Coast

44

Lewis Taylor

2014

Brisbane Lions

39

Jesse Hogan

2015

Melbourne

49

Callum Mills

2016

Sydney

49

Andrew McGrath

2017

Essendon

51

Jaidyn Stephenson

2018

Collingwood

52

Sam Walsh

2019

Carlton

54

Caleb Serong

2020

Fremantle

48

Luke Jackson

2021

Melbourne

51

Nick Daicos

2022

Collingwood

60

Harry Sheezel

2023

North Melbourne

54

Oliver Dempsey

2024

Geelong

52

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18+ T&C's Apply. Imagine what you could be buying instead? You win some. You Lose More. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au

18+ T&C's Apply. Imagine what you could be buying instead? You win some. You Lose More. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au

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AFL Rising Star Betting FAQs


Do Rising Star award odds change during the season?

Yes, Rising Star award odds can fluctuate throughout the season based on player performances and injuries.

Who votes for the AFL Rising Star winner?

The AFL Rising Star winner is decided by a voting panel, which includes AFL coaches, media representatives, and experts who award points to players based on their performances.

Can a player with more than 10 career games before the season win the AFL Rising Star?

No, players must have played in fewer than 10 games in the AFL before the season begins to be eligible for the Rising Star award.

What’s the best strategy for betting on the AFL Rising Star?

The best strategy is to focus on players from competitive teams, as they are more likely to feature in high-profile games and have the opportunity to make a game-changing impact. Keep an eye on young players who are consistently involved and gaining attention throughout the season.