Today Melbourne’s Jesse Hogan or Carlton’s Patrick Cripps will rightfully be announced as the AFL’s NAB rising star.

But down at Simonds Stadium, the Cats will be grinning ear to ear anyway.

In 2015, the Cats have more rising star nominations than any club. Cory Gregson, Jackson Thurlow and Darcy Lang each were given the nod throughout the year in recognition of not only outstanding performances but also consistency.

In fact, the trio play a combined 59 out of a possible 63 games with Thurlow missing two games due to his kidney injury at the start of the year, Lang missing the final game of the year due to achilies soreness and Gregson earning one game’s well earned rest against Brisbane in round 18.

With those three earning nominations it took the number of Cats in the 2015 squad with nominations to 16. Of those, three achieved them with their previous clubs (Sam Blease, Josh Caddy and Jared Rivers). Even Cats coach Chris Scott is a former winner of the award.

So whilst the Cats won’t take out the gong this year, there is plenty of stars and stars in the making to take us forward.

How the 2015 nominees rank against their peers

Cory Gregson

Ranked 4th among rising stars in Total Inside 50s

Ranked 5th among rising stars in Total Goal Assists

Ranked 10th among rising stars in Total Handballs

Ranked 8th among rising stars in Total Marks

Ranked 10th among rising stars in Total Goals

Ranked 5th among rising stars in Total Tackles

Ranked 10th among rising stars in Total AFL Fantasy Score

Ranked 10th among rising stars in Total Uncontested Possessions

Ranked 10th among rising stars in Total Time On Ground %

Darcy Lang

Ranked 7th among rising stars in Total Inside 50s

Ranked 8th among rising stars in Total Goal Assists

Ranked 10th among rising stars in Total Kicks

Ranked 9th among rising stars in Total Handballs

Ranked 10th among rising stars in Total Disposals

Ranked 9th among rising stars in Total Goals

Ranked 7th among rising stars in Total Tackles

Ranked 9th among rising stars in Total AFL Fantasy Score

Ranked 7th among rising stars in Total Uncontested Possessions

Ranked 10th among rising stars in Total Effective Disposals

Ranked 5th among rising stars in Total Bounces

Jackson Thurlow

Ranked 3rd among rising stars in Total Kicks

Ranked 7th among rising stars in Total Handballs

Ranked 5th among rising stars in Total Disposals

Ranked 4th among rising stars in Total Marks

Ranked 7th among rising stars in Total Supercoach Score

Ranked 7th among rising stars in Total AFL Fantasy Score

Ranked 2nd among rising stars in Total Uncontested Possessions

Ranked 3rd among rising stars in Total Effective Disposals

Ranked 1st among rising stars in Total Rebound 50s

2015 listed rising star nominees

Darcy Lang

Jackson Thurlow

Cory Gregson

George Horlin-Smith

Sam Blease

Josh Caddy

Steven Motlop

Daniel Menzel

Mitch Duncan

Joel Selwood (winner)

Tom Hawkins

Jared Rivers (winner)

Andrew Mackie

James Kelly

Jimmy Bartel

Corey Enright