It's that time of year when things start to ramp up. The 2024 AFL season is getting closer and closer, and with that, plenty of eyes will be on the new recruits in the AFL.
Arguably the most talked about draftee in years, every AFL fan is eagerly awaiting Harley Reid's debut. The young star is already a household name and fans cannot wait.
To recognise these new recruits, the Rising Star Award will be presented to the best young player in the 2024 season. With that being said, a player doesn't need to be in their first year of football. The player must simply be 21 years of age or under as of January 1 this year and have played a maximum of ten senior AFL games prior to the new season's commencement.
In this list of nine possible winners, four are brand-new AFL recruits, whilst the other five have been in the competition for at least a year.
Note: The players listed are in no particular order, simply the nine potential winners we've selected.
READ: FULL LIST OF 2024 RISING STAR ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
What else needs to be said about this kid that hasn't been said before?
A clear favourite for the Rising Star, Harley Reid could genuinely be the next big thing. Whilst comparisons to Dustin Martin put a heap of pressure on the kid, his performances throughout his draft year at the junior level speak for themselves.
A star in the making prior to setting foot on the field, expect big things from Reid. Having been taken with the first pick by the struggling Eagles, Reid could be that shining light that the club has been so desperately looking for.
The fourth pick in the 2023 draft, Zane Duursma has the potential to take home the prestigious Rising Star.
Standing at 189cm tall and extremely athletic, the AFL-ready Duursma should explode onto the scene.
With older brother Xavier and older sister Yasmin already playing at the highest level, the younger sibling could have a stellar first season and add to the highly successful family.
A goalscoring midfielder, Duursma adds yet another youthful dynamic to the ever-rebuilding Roos.
The fifth pick in the 2022 draft, Elijah Tsatas made his long-awaited debut in Round 21 against the Eagles last season.
He ended up playing the final four games of the season, averaging just over 16 possessions per game.
Clean with the footy in hand and through traffic, Tsatas impressed in his mere four games last season with several influential moves for the Dons.
With the ability to be a goalscoring midfielder, much to Essendon's pleasure, Tsatas finds himself as a top pick for the Rising Star.
The Roos' big-bodied bull, George Wardlaw is set to take the competition by storm in 2024.
After an injury-riddled first season, the fourth pick in the 2022 draft impressed in the second half of the season.
With a knack for simply attacking the footy, and attacking it hard, Wardlaw is a traditional strong midfielder the Roos have been missing.
Whilst not necessarily silky with the footy, his ability to run through opposing midfield packs makes him a serious contender for the award.
A versatile midfielder, the Bulldogs will be pleased with their recent top draft selection of Ryley Sanders.
Sanders has perhaps the cleanest skills bar from last year's draft pool, while his attitude towards the contest is also a huge bonus.
With the Bulldogs' midfield taking a hit with the injured Bailey Smith, Sanders could waltz into the side and take the competition head-on.
During the Talent League and National Championships, Sanders never dropped below 25 disposals per game and averaged 33 for the year, a phenomenal feat. Expect him to bring that to the AFL.
Sanders' Tasmanian teammate, Colby McKercher, seems primed for an early look at AFL football.
Possibly the most electrifying player in the draft based on his performances last season, the number two pick is set to aid the North Melbourne midfield drastically.
Alongside the talents of Wardlaw, Duursma, and Luke Davies-Uniacke, North is looking very good for the next few years.
Averaging 29.4 disposals in 2023 for the Tasmanian Devils at the junior level, McKercher is a clear candidate for the best young player in the competition.
Sydney's contested ball-winning midfielder Angus Sheldrick is a standout candidate for the Rising Star.
Playing only seven games in 2023 but averaging 15.3 disposals per game, Sheldrick showed his class through limited game time in the year.
Unfortunately, the 20-year-old missed most of the season after suffering a syndesmosis injury that hindered his great season.
With a new-look Swans outfit in 2024, Sheldrick could become a mainstay in the side and push for Rising Star honours.
No pressure at all was placed on this kid when he was dubbed 'the next Joel Selwood'...
Clark managed just one game in his maiden season, playing as the substitute against Richmond in Round 9 last year. The youngster was taken with the eighth pick in the 2022 draft as a classy midfielder.
Without much proof in the AFL, it's tough to tell where Clark will end up in the Geelong side this year.
Of course, the Cats' playing group is getting older, however, saying this in the past has backfired drastically at times. His draft stats speak for themselves, a certified 'gun' in the latter stage of his junior years, the 19-year-old may just break out this season.
Son of a Bulldogs great, Sam Darcy could potentially be the final key forward the Dogs are after.
Despite having two tall targets in Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Aaron Naughton, finding consistent output from the pair hasn't been unveiled just yet. Either one is firing and the other is quiet, or worst case, they're both quiet.
Occasionally trialled in the backline at both VFL and senior level, the tall target may find himself at the other end of the field. No matter the case, Darcy should be getting more game time in 2024 which could do big things for his Rising Star aspirations.