SA Footy

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-09-03/i ... a-thriller

AN "HONOURED" Lewis Taylor has thanked his father Simon for the crucial role he played in getting him to a position to claim the 2014 NAB AFL Rising Star.

The 19-year-old Brisbane Lion polled 39 votes on Wednesday, one more than the Western Bulldogs' Marcus Bontempelli, to win the Ron Evans medal.

North Melbourne's Luke McDonald was third, with 32.

Taylor, who is estranged from his mother and was raised with his brother Toby by their father, said Simon's role in his journey from grassroots football to the Lions was pivotal.

"Dad's been great for me, getting me to games, where I need to be, training, representative stuff," Taylor said on Wednesday after winning the award.

"We've had some good times along the way so I'm very thankful.

"He's worked hard to get me and my brother back and settle us down and get us on the right path, which he's done."

Wednesday afternoon's count at Crown in Melbourne was the closest since the prestigious award for the game's best young player was introduced in 1993.

Taylor was one of the bright lights for the Lions this season, making his debut in round one and playing every match.

He was one of only two nominated players (Sydney Swans Harry Cunningham was the other) and one of only three Lion players to play every match this season. Taylor averaged 84 per cent of playing time.

Of the 23 nominees, Taylor had the most disposals (371), the third-most score involvements (86) and fifth-most contested possessions (109).

Taylor averaged 17 disposals, five contested and 12 uncontested possessions, four marks, two inside 50s and two tackles. He kicked 12 goals.

Lewis Taylor BL 39
Marcus Bontempelli WB 38
Luke McDonald NM 32
James Aish BL 19
Kade Kolodjashnij GC 7
Luke Dunstan STK 5
Tom Langdon COLL 5
Harry Cunningham SYD 3
Josh Kelly GWS 1
Jarman Impey PORT 1


Gillon McLachlan
5 – Lewis Taylor
4 – Marcus Bontempelli
3 – Luke McDonald
2 – James Aish
1 – Harry Cunningham

Mark Evans
5 – Lewis Taylor
4 – Marcus Bontempelli
3 – James Aish
2 – Luke Dunstan
1 – Harry Cunningham

Danny Frawley
5 – Lewis Taylor
4 – Marcus Bontempelli
3 – Luke McDonald
2 – Kade Kolodjashnij
1 – Harry Cunningham

Warren Tredrea
5 – Luke McDonald
4 – Marcus Bontempelli
3 – Lewis Taylor
2 – Kade Kolodjashnij
1 – Jarman Impey

Glen Jakovich
5 – Lewis Taylor
4 – James Aish
3 – Marcus Bontempelli
2 – Luke McDonald
1 – Luke Dunstan

Cameron Ling
5 – James Aish
4 – Luke McDonald
3 – Tom Langdon
2 – Marcus Bontempelli
1 – Luke Dunstan

Luke Darcy
5 – Marcus Bontempelli
4 – Luke McDonald
3 – Lewis Taylor
2 – Kade Kolodjashnij
1 – James Aish

Matthew Richardson
5 – Lewis Taylor
4 – Marcus Bontempelli
3 – Luke McDonald
2 – James Aish
1 – Josh Kelly

Kevin Bartlett
5 – Luke McDonald
4 – Lewis Taylor
3 – Marcus Bontempelli
2 – James Aish
1 – Luke Dunstan

Kevin Sheehan
5 – Marcus Bontempelli
4 – Lewis Taylor
3 – Luke McDonald
2 – Tom Langdon
1 – Kade Kolodjashnij

Luke McDonald was robbed. Kept his spot all year and played well in a team that made finals, while the other 6 of the top 7 played for dud teams where of course they would stand out.

HH3 wrote:Luke McDonald was robbed. Kept his spot all year and played well in a team that made finals, while the other 6 of the top 7 played for dud teams where of course they would stand out.

And that makes him better than Taylor or Bontempelli how?

HH3 wrote:Luke McDonald was robbed. Kept his spot all year and played well in a team that made finals, while the other 6 of the top 7 played for dud teams where of course they would stand out.

Least he got a vote.
Zac Merrett played 19 of the 23 games and made our best players in 9 of those games.
Didnt even poll a vote.

HH3 wrote:Luke McDonald was robbed. Kept his spot all year and played well in a team that made finals, while the other 6 of the top 7 played for dud teams where of course they would stand out.

The other 6 might have played better with better players around them?

No disrespect to the kids, but I don't think this award means that much, certainly won't dictate the status or $ contracts they reach by the end of their careers.

Tredrea seriously gave jarman impey a vote?

How the hell did Troy Menzel not get a vote... ???

Ron Burgundy wrote:Tredrea seriously gave jarman impey a vote?

I just scoffed at that too! Not only did he give him a vote, it was the only vote he received!

I thought Cunningham may have polled more

Well done to the lad.

The bont looks like a serious player though.

JK wrote:

HH3 wrote:Luke McDonald was robbed. Kept his spot all year and played well in a team that made finals, while the other 6 of the top 7 played for dud teams where of course they would stand out.

The other 6 might have played better with better players around them?

No disrespect to the kids, but I don't think this award means that much, certainly won't dictate the status or $ contracts they reach by the end of their careers.

What they "might" have done shouldn't come into it. It's what they did do.

I guess it doesnt matter that he didnt win. Im happy to have someone like him playing for my team.

This is him 5 minutes into his AFL debut.



He's a ready made AFL defender. And possible future captain...big call? We'll see. 50 seconds in shows his courage.

HH3 wrote:I guess it doesnt matter that he didnt win. Im happy to have someone like him playing for my team.

This is him 5 minutes into his AFL debut.



He's a ready made AFL defender. And possible future captain...big call? We'll see. 50 seconds in shows his courage.

Some great highlights there HH3, if he keeps that sort of effort and commitment up he'll play alot of AFL. I can see why you're a fan of him as you're a similar type of footballer.

HH3 wrote:

JK wrote:

HH3 wrote:Luke McDonald was robbed. Kept his spot all year and played well in a team that made finals, while the other 6 of the top 7 played for dud teams where of course they would stand out.

The other 6 might have played better with better players around them?

No disrespect to the kids, but I don't think this award means that much, certainly won't dictate the status or $ contracts they reach by the end of their careers.

What they "might" have done shouldn't come into it. It's what they did do.

Yep and McDonald DID less than Taylor and Bontempelli, so where's the issue?

JK wrote:

HH3 wrote:

JK wrote:

HH3 wrote:Luke McDonald was robbed. Kept his spot all year and played well in a team that made finals, while the other 6 of the top 7 played for dud teams where of course they would stand out.

The other 6 might have played better with better players around them?

No disrespect to the kids, but I don't think this award means that much, certainly won't dictate the status or $ contracts they reach by the end of their careers.

What they "might" have done shouldn't come into it. It's what they did do.

Yep and McDonald DID less than Taylor and Bontempelli, so where's the issue?

My opinion is that he didn't. Which is fine. It was an aggregate score from multiple voters, so these things happen.

There are a couple of voters that agreed with me that McDonald was the best young player, so where's the issue with my opinion?

Ling didnt even give him a vote did he?

HH3 wrote:There are a couple of voters that agreed with me that McDonald was the best young player, so where's the issue with my opinion?

No issue, McDonald is a quality player, but I think highlighting the fact he contributed in a team that plays finals is irrelevant. Just as McDonald didn't carry North to the finals, Lewis and Bontempelli etc didn't cause their sides to miss.

As I said inferred initially, impossible to pick with any certainty who will go on to have the best career out of all of them, but safe to say all are going to be very good players for a long time to come.

Jim05 wrote:Ling didnt even give him a vote did he?

Nah he didnt give Taylor a vote, but there was someone that didn't give McDonald a vote as well. Pretty wishy-washy award now that I've looked at it a bit more.

The Dark Knight wrote:

HH3 wrote:I guess it doesnt matter that he didnt win. Im happy to have someone like him playing for my team.

Some great highlights there HH3, if he keeps that sort of effort and commitment up he'll play alot of AFL. I can see why you're a fan of him as you're a similar type of footballer.

Haha, just do what I can mate. Just do what I can....

HH3 wrote:

Jim05 wrote:Ling didnt even give him a vote did he?

Nah he didnt give Taylor a vote, but there was someone that didn't give McDonald a vote as well. Pretty wishy-washy award now that I've looked at it a bit more.

The fact only Treddas gave Impey a vote kinda sums this up.

I like the idea of the award, just think this year none of the players excelled as much as previous winners & thats why we are having this debate. In the past has been a couple of winners have had ripper seasons , this year all of the nominess only had good seasons IMO