JESSE Hogan from the Melbourne Football Club is the 2015 NAB AFL Rising Star.
The key forward won the award with 49 votes ahead of Carlton’s Patrick Cripps (41 votes) and West Coast’s Dom Sheed (27 votes).
He received the Ron Evans Medal and a $20,000 personal investment folio and a dedicated personal banker, courtesy of the National Australia Bank, at a function held in Melbourne today.
The 20-year-old made his AFL debut for the Demons in Round One this year against the Gold Coast Suns and played 20 games.
He was nominated for the NAB AFL Rising Star in Round Nine after kicking two goals and taking eight marks against Port Adelaide.
Jesse came to Melbourne as a GWS Giants Trade Incentive Rule selection 17-year-old access player in 2012; he was selection two. He was recruited from the Marist Junior Football Club in Perth. He also played for Claremont in the WAFL.
Of the 2015 nominees, Jesse was ranked number one with the most marks (134) and goals (44). He averaged 2.2 goals per matches and topped Melbourne's 2015 goal-kicking.
He finished the home and away season 14th on the AFL goal-kicking ladder and ranked third in the AFL averaging 2.4 contested marks per match.
His 44 goal tally is the highest for the club since Brad Green's 55 goals in 2010 and he is the first key forward to win the award since Nick Riewoldt in 2002.
Jesse is the second Melbourne player to win the NAB AFL Rising Star. Jared Rivers won the award in 2004.
Injury hampered the forward’s first two seasons at Melbourne. A back-injury suffered in the 2014 NAB Challenge saw him sit out most of last year. He played two VFL matches for the Casey Scorpions in August.
In 2013 he suffered a season-ending knee injury in August, yet won Casey's Best and Fairest after scoring 39 goals in 15 games.
Melbourne coach Paul Roos said overcoming injures has made Jesse a better player.
“We talked about his injury at the time (and not having him for the first year) maybe it was the best thing for him. Jesse has done what no one else has done,” he said.
“The biggest change I’ve seen in Jesse over the last 12 months is his attention to detail and his understanding of the professionalism required in AFL footy – so while at the time it was frustrating to see a good player not play – it was probably the best thing for him and it turned out to be and we’re really privileged to have a NAB AFL Rising Star winner, and a worthy winner at that.”
National Australia Bank’s CEO, Andrew Thorburn, congratulated Jesse Hogan and commended each of the 2015 NAB AFL Rising Star nominees on an outstanding season.
“Jesse is a great football talent but it takes more than just talent to be named the NAB AFL Rising Star. Jesse has dedicated years of hard work, passion, ambition and self-discipline.
“This award also recognises the terrific support of Jesse’s family, friends and coaches – football is a team game and Jesse’s success today is the result of a true team effort.”
Mr Thorburn said NAB has been a partner of the AFL for more than a decade and was proud to help grow the game and enable young leaders to realise their potential on and off the field.
“We look forward to celebrating Jesse’s career success well into the future," said Mr Thorburn.
The NAB AFL Rising Star is voted by the All-Australian selection panel: Gillon McLachlan (chairman), Kevin Bartlett, Luke Darcy, Mark Evans, Danny Frawley, Glen Jakovich, Cameron Ling, Matthew Richardson, Warren Tredrea and Kevin Sheehan (NAB AFL Rising Star Award only).
2015 Voting
Jesse Hogan 49 Melbourne
Patrick Cripps 41 Carlton
Dom Sheed 27 West Coast
Isaac Heeny 12 Sydney Swans
Angus Brayshaw 8 Melbourne
Touk Miller 6 Gold Coast
Adam Saad 3 Gold Coast
Jake Lever 2 Adelaide
Jordan De Goey 1 Collingwood
Jackson Thurlow 1 Geelong
The selectors’ votes were as follow:
Gillon McLachlan
5 – Jesse Hogan
4 – Patrick Cripps
3 – Dom Sheed
2 – Angus Brayshaw
1 – Isaac Heeney
Kevin Bartlett
5 – Jesse Hogan
4 – Patrick Cripps
3 – Dom Sheed
2 – Isaac Heeney
1 – Adam Saad
Luke Darcy
5 – Jesse Hogan
4 – Patrick Cripps
3 – Dom Sheed
2 – Isaac Heeney
1 – Angus Brayshaw
Mark Evans
5 – Jesse Hogan
4 – Patrick Cripps
3 – Dom Sheed
2 – Isaac Heeney
1 – Angus Brayshaw
Danny Frawley
5 – Jesse Hogan
4 – Patrick Cripps
3 – Isaac Heeney
2 – Touk Miller
1 – Angus Brayshaw
Glen Jakovich
5 – Jesse Hogan
4 – Patrick Cripps
3 – Dom Sheed
2 – Adam Saad
1 – Angus Brayshaw
Cameron Ling
5 – Jesse Hogan
4 – Patrick Cripps
3 – Dom Sheed
2 – Angus Brayshaw
1 – Isaac Heeney
Matthew Richardson
5 – Jesse Hogan
4 – Patrick Cripps
3 – Dom Sheed
2 – Touk Miller
1 – Isaac Heeney
Warren Tredrea
5 – Jesse Hogan
4 – Patrick Cripps
3 – Dom Sheed
2 – Jake Lever
1 – Jordan De Goey
Kevin Sheehan
5 – Patrick Cripps
4 – Jesse Hogan
3 – Dom Sheed
2 – Touk Miller
1 – Jackson Thurlow
The NAB AFL Rising Star is part of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfil their dream of playing in the AFL.
NAB has been Footifying Australia since 2002 through the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program which comprises the following elements:
· NAB AFL Rising Star
· NAB AFL Draft
· NAB AFL Draft Combine
· NAB AFL Trade Period
· NAB AFL Under-18 Championships
· NAB AFL Academy
· NAB AFL Under-16 Championships
