2014 NAB AFL Rising Star

Player Team Votes Lewis Taylor BL 39 Marcus Bontempelli WB 38 Luke McDonald NM 32 James Aish BL 19 Kade Kolodjashnij GC 7 Luke Dunstan STK 5 Tom Langdon COLL 5 Harry Cunningham SYD 3 Josh Kelly GWS 1 Jarman Impey PORT 1

NAB AFL Rising Star winners: 1993-present

Year Player Club Votes Recruited from 2014 Lewis Taylor BL 39 Terang-Mortlake (Vic) 2013 Jaeger O'Meara GCFC 44 Perth (WA) 2012 Daniel Talia ADEL 43 Calder Cannons (VIC) 2011 Dyson Heppell ESS 44 Gippsland Power (VIC) 2010 Daniel Hannebery SYD 45 Kew (VIC) 2009 Daniel Rich BL 45 Subiaco (WA) 2008 Rhys Palmer FRE 44 East Fremantle (WA) 2007 Joel Selwood GEEL 44 Bendigo U18 2006 Danyle Pearce PORT 43 Sturt (SA) 2005 Brett Deledio RICH 43 Kyabram/ Murray U18 2004 Jared Rivers MELB 45 North Adelaide (SA) 2003 Sam Mitchell HAW 33 Mooroolbark/ Eastern U18 2002 Nick Riewoldt STK 34 Southport (Qld) 2001 Justin Koschitzke STK 31 Albury (NSW)/ Murray U18 2000 Paul Hasleby FRE 33 East Fremantle (WA) 1999 Adam Goodes SYD 33 Horsham/ North Ballarat U18 1998 Byron Pickett NMFC 30 Port Adelaide (SANFL) 1997 Michael Wilson PORT 27 Port Adelaide (SANFL) 1996 Ben Cousins WCE - East Fremantle (WA) 1995 Nick Holland HAW - North Adelaide (SA) 1994 Chris Scott BL - Eastern U18 1993 Nathan Buckley BL - Port Adelaide (SANFL)

AN "HONOURED" Lewis Taylor has thanked his father Simon for the crucial role he played in getting him to a position to claim the 2014 NAB AFL Rising Star.The 19-year-old Brisbane Lion polled 39 votes on Wednesday, one more than the Western Bulldogs' Marcus Bontempelli, to win the Ron Evans medal.North Melbourne's Luke McDonald was third, with 32.Taylor, who is estranged from his mother and was raised with his brother Toby by their father, said Simon's role in his journey from grassroots football to the Lions was pivotal."Dad's been great for me, getting me to games, where I need to be, training, representative stuff," Taylor said on Wednesday after winning the award."We've had some good times along the way so I'm very thankful."He's worked hard to get me and my brother back and settle us down and get us on the right path, which he's done."Wednesday afternoon's count at Crown in Melbourne was the closest since the prestigious award for the game's best young player was introduced in 1993.Taylor was one of the bright lights for the Lions this season, making his debut in round one and playing every match.He was one of only two nominated players (Sydney Swans Harry Cunningham was the other) and one of only three Lion players to play every match this season. Taylor averaged 84 per cent of playing time.Of the 23 nominees, Taylor had the most disposals (371), the third-most score involvements (86) and fifth-most contested possessions (109).Taylor averaged 17 disposals, five contested and 12 uncontested possessions, four marks, two inside 50s and two tackles. He kicked 12 goals.Lions football manager Dean Warren praised Taylor's determination after he was kept in a moon boot until after Christmas last year because of stress fractures."His resilience has been remarkable. Not only did he get himself up, he played a couple of NEAFL games leading into round one," Warren said."His form, you could see he was just a busy little player."Not only was it his resilience to get to the line for round one, but his resilience over the course of the season has been remarkable, not only physically but mentally."When you expect a lot of first year players to start flagging mentally ... he certainty didn't so that's a real credit."Taylor was nominated for the NAB AFL Rising Star in round nine after an impressive performance against North Melbourne. He collected 20 disposals, took eight marks and registered three tackles in that match, a loss.Taylor was selection no.28 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft. He played junior football for Terang-Mortlake in western Victoria and the Geelong Falcons.He 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.Taylor said he didn't expect much coming into his first AFL season and his initial focus was to get over his injury and give himself the chance to play in round one.He also said he was forced to overcome doubts over his height throughout his career but had responded to those who didn't think he could make it by working hard."It didn't faze me too much at all. I just go out there and try and do my thing and work hard at things I need to work on instead of doubting myself about my height," he said."I think I'm just someone who wants to work hard. I like to think I've had that trait my whole life so it definitely helps you out."It was just 12 months ago that the Lions were facing an exodus of players wanting to leave the club for their home states.But Taylor said he "couldn't ask for a better place to be at the moment", which Warren put down to the improved resources at the club that have made it a "stronger" place."We had 10 players debut this year – I think that's a remarkable achievement in a year where we had seven wins," Warren said."The quality of the young guys that have come into our club are outstanding."While we had some leave, what it did do is allow us to balance out our list pretty well with the type of players we've brought in."Not only do they look like they're going to be exceptional players, but they're exceptional young men."Taylor is the fourth Brisbane player to win the Rising Star. Chris Scott was the inaugural winner, Nathan Buckley took the prize in 1994 and Daniel Rich won it in 2009.Taylor receives the Ron Evans Medal and a $20,000 investment portfolio courtesy of National Australia Bank.5 – Lewis Taylor4 – Marcus Bontempelli3 – Luke McDonald2 – James Aish1 – Harry Cunningham5 – Lewis Taylor4 – Marcus Bontempelli3 – James Aish2 – Luke Dunstan1 – Harry Cunningham5 – Lewis Taylor4 – Marcus Bontempelli3 – Luke McDonald2 – Kade Kolodjashnij1 – Harry Cunningham5 – Luke McDonald4 – Marcus Bontempelli3 – Lewis Taylor2 – Kade Kolodjashnij1 – Jarman Impey5 – Lewis Taylor4 – James Aish3 – Marcus Bontempelli2 – Luke McDonald1 – Luke Dunstan5 – James Aish4 – Luke McDonald3 – Tom Langdon2 – Marcus Bontempelli1 – Luke Dunstan5 – Marcus Bontempelli4 – Luke McDonald3 – Lewis Taylor2 – Kade Kolodjashnij1 – James Aish5 – Lewis Taylor4 – Marcus Bontempelli3 – Luke McDonald2 – James Aish1 – Josh Kelly5 – Luke McDonald4 – Lewis Taylor3 – Marcus Bontempelli2 – James Aish1 – Luke Dunstan5 – Marcus Bontempelli4 – Lewis Taylor3 – Luke McDonald2 – Tom Langdon1 – Kade Kolodjashnij