I present to you the next AFL superstar

[HH3]

Well now that Jay Z's got the nom if he keeps his average up like it is now i reckon he would definately win it.

[Pup]

Well now that Jay Z's got the nom if he keeps his average up like it is now i reckon he would definately win it.

Still well and truly up for grabs. Is only round 7.

[Punk Rooster]

8)

I love JZ.....

[Dutchy]

Maturity makes Ziebell ‘best in a decade’

Jack Ziebell has everything an AFL footballer needs to succeed, according to teammate Brady Rawlings

Ziebell has made a greater impression on teammate Brady Rawlings than any other young player of the last decade.

Rawlings, a veteran of 188 matches, said he could not speak highly enough of Ziebell, who joined North Melbourne as the No. 9 pick in November's NAB AFL Draft and has played eight games this year.

Ziebell missed the round-eight loss to Geelong with thigh soreness but joined Rawlings, also sidelined for that match with a calf strain, for the drive down to Skilled Stadium.

"I felt like I had a 30-year-old in the car with me," Rawlings said. "Normally with 17 or 18-year-old blokes, you've got to think about what things you're going to talk to them about.

"It was unbelievable."

The eighth-youngest player on current AFL lists and the only debutant from the bottom 10, Ziebell turned 18 in February but has shone through on-field maturity.

In 2008, he juggled football commitments with Caulfield Grammar, TAC Cup side Murray Bushrangers and the Vic Country under-18s – two years after making his senior debut with the Wodonga Bulldogs in the Ovens and Murray Football League.

With the physical attributes to sustain a spot in North's 22, Ziebell has a similarly developed character.

"I think the most impressive thing about Ziebs is you know that whatever is thrust at him is not going to go to his head," Rawlings said.

"He's just a very level-headed kid. He's not cocky at all, where some kids could be like that when they've done what he's done so far this year.

"He's the exact opposite and a good person to have at your footy club."

Earlier this month, midfielder Daniel Wells wrote in his column on the North Melbourne website that Ziebell had set an example for a lot of players and had a rare football mind for someone his age.

But coach Dean Laidley said after the round-seven win over Port Adelaide that Ziebell was going to be a "superstar".

Ziebell won the NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for his 23-possession performance in that game.

"We probably haven't had anyone come in as quickly as he has, except for Daniel Wells, and make an impact in their first year," Rawlings added.

"He's going to be great for us down the track. He's already been good for us and has probably been up there in our better players for the year. It's a pretty good effort when you're 18 years old.

"Football-wise, he's got most attributes. He's tough and wins his own ball but he really uses it well, too. He's good overhead and good at ground level. It's hard to compare him to a lot of guys."

Rawlings could play a role in unearthing the next Jack Ziebell.

With a plan for his post-playing career, the 27-year-old has undertaken work experience with North's talent ID manager Bryce Lewis – attending TAC Cup games and studying match footage.

"I thought if I could get my hands dirty in the next couple of years and show that I've been putting a bit of work in over that amount of time, I might be a bit better prepared," he said.

Rawlings, who until his calf injury had played 94 games on end, was hopeful he still had three or four years left at Arden Street.Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network

[the joker]

Andy Otten will be the Suprise packet in the Nab rising star this year, he has been the most consistant of players who have been Nominated this year, he is Averaging almost 20 possies Compared to 17 by Ziebell and 14 by Hill, and playing on the third and sometimes second tall of the Opposition.

[Rik E Boy]

Maturity makes Ziebell ‘best in a decade’ according to teammate in a side that hasn't had a low draft pick in a decade

LMAO.

regards,

REB

[Booney]

Not to put undue pressure on the kid, but ,I guess he is mature enough to handle it.


Or is he?

[am Bays]

Rawlings and Laidley are hardley impartial judeges of teh boys talent. Mind you if he is as good as what they claim - he'll be in a Carlton/Collingwood/Essendon Guernsey within 4 years...

[Dutchy]

Love the Z man....

[thunderchild]

GUN

[Rik E Boy]

[The Sleeping Giant]

Lucky he plays for North Melbourne. Not hard to be a star in that team.

[Booney]

Lucky he plays for North Melbourne. Not hard to be a star in that team.

I'll save you the time Dutchy...

[saveyourlegs]

Rich to win by along way..watched him play on sat and he is a superstar already

[Drop Bear]

This bloke's got my vote!

[Dutchy]

Andy Otten will be the Suprise packet in the Nab rising star this year, he has been the most consistant of players who have been Nominated this year, he is Averaging almost 20 possies Compared to 17 by Ziebell and 14 by Hill, and playing on the third and sometimes second tall of the Opposition.

Not hard to get possies in the Adelaide back line, probably has had as many backwards kicks as forward ones

Get Otten in the midfield and see if he stacks up to Jack and Rich....

[JK]

Andy Otten will be the Suprise packet in the Nab rising star this year, he has been the most consistant of players who have been Nominated this year, he is Averaging almost 20 possies Compared to 17 by Ziebell and 14 by Hill, and playing on the third and sometimes second tall of the Opposition.

Not hard to get possies in the Adelaide back line, probably has had as many backwards kicks as forward ones

Get Otten in the midfield and see if he stacks up to Jack and Rich....

Still not the fairest of comparisons, you'd need to get ZieDutch and Rich into the Crows lineup and then compare and obviously that aint gonna happen.

Otten has been exceptional this year, but his type wont win it, not when ZieDutch, Rich, Hill etc are all future match-winners, and the midfield is where it's at these days.

[The Sleeping Giant]

Well, JZ has at least one thing in common with James Hird. He gets onto the ground as regulary as Hirdy.

[NFC]

Well, JZ has at least one thing in common with James Hird. He gets onto the ground as regulary as Hirdy.

Rich
Otten
Ziebell
Hill
Walker

Top 5 as it stands.

[Dutchy]

Well, JZ has at least one thing in common with James Hird. He gets onto the ground as regulary as Hirdy.

Rich
Otten
Ziebell
Hill
Walker

Top 5 as it stands.

Otten = over rated

11 possies today, 3 clangers...