An interrupted 2021 season has seen a lot of future stars emerge in our league.
For footy fans, there is nothing more exciting than watching the future of your club burst on to the scene.
Across the league, we've seen young talent drive clubs towards success more than ever. Among the youngsters nominated for this year's Rising Star Award, many are primed to play big roles in the upcoming finals series.
So with the 2021 Rising Star to be announced tonight at the AFL Awards Night, we wanted to look at the five most impressive candidates from this season.
LUKE JACKSON
Taken at pick 3 in the 2019 draft, Jackson managed only six games in his debut season. Now in his second year at Melbourne, Jackson has cemented himself as an integral member of this minor premiership winning side.
In a ruck/forward role that traditionally takes years for bodies to develop, the 198cm Jackson has shown a poise and maturity far beyond his 19-years-of-age.
To go with his 15 goals, the youngster has the most hit-outs and the second most score involvements of any rising star this season.
More impressively, Jackson has played 21 games this year and has begun having a huge influence on matches. In Melbourne's round 20 game against the Suns, Jackson kicked four goals whilst amassing 17 disposals and 13 hit-outs.
Now a trusted foil for skipper Max Gawn, the 19-year-old threatens to play a key-role in Melbourne's drought-breaking premiership tilt.
Jackson will enter tonight as the heavy favourite for the award.
TOM GREEN
Few rookies have had more of an impact than Tom Green in 2021.
Initially struggling to break into a loaded midfield, Green announced himself as a lock in GWS's best 22 after an extremely impressive line of form.
Incredibly, the 20-year-old's consistency now has the Giants favouring him ahead of captain Stephen Coniglio in the side.
Green ranks first in many key areas amongst fellow rising stars, including for most disposals, clearances and contested possessions.
The emergence of Green season has played no small part in getting GWS into an unlikely finals appearance this week.
Destined to be a midfield bull in the years to come, Green is Jackson's biggest threat for Rising Star honours tonight.
MITCH GEORGIADES
Much like his young counterparts, Georgiades has played a key role for a side strongly contending for the premiership.
At only 19-years-of-age, Georgiades is a proven target and reliable goal-kicker up forward for the Power. His 32 goals and 21 contested marks are the most of any rising star this season.
Incredibly athletic and able to play above his 191cm frame, the youngster has Port fans salivating for the years to come.
Georgiades played all but one game so far this season, although a hamstring injury in round 23 has put him at risk of missing this week's huge final against Geelong.
As ready-made key-forwards are hard to come by, expect Georgiades to poll highly in the Rising Star award tonight.
ERROL GULDEN
The Swans have had a number of youngsters lead a stunning resurgence in 2021.
Alongside fellow rising stars in Justin McInerney and Chad Warner, Gulden has provided an energy and spark that has buoyed Sydney in their run to finals.
Recruited with pick 32 in the 2020 draft, Gulden has played 17 games in his debut season and acts as a barometer for the Swans side.
19-year-old leads all rising stars for goal assists, as well as kicking 14 of his own. Gulden's ball use has proven a powerful weapon, demonstrating elite foot skills in the midfield and up forward.
Although not expected to win the Rising Star award, Gulden will likely feature prominently in the polling.
CODY WEIGHTMAN
The lively small forward has been as exciting as any youngster to emerge from this year.
Across his 13 games this season, Weightman has shown an ability to take high-flying marks and proven a knack for hitting the scoreboard. The 20-year-old showcased this in round 19 when he took a Mark of the Year contender over the 208cm Max Gawn, following it up with a goal a minute later.
Weightman's 1.6 goals per game is more than any other rising star, kicking a goal in all but one of his games.
With flowing blond locks, the youngster is destined to be a popular excitement machine for the next decade.
Weightman has missed too many games to truly contend for the Rising Star award, but he has a good chance of rounding out the top-five on the leader board.
VERDICT: Luke Jackson will almost certainly take out the 2021 Rising Star Award, with Tom Green and Mitch Georgiades not too far behind.
The 2021 AFL Awards ceremony will be broadcast on Fox Footy from 8:30pm tonight.
