| 2017 AFL Rising Star | |
|---|---|
 Andrew McGrath, 2017 winner[1] | |
| Sponsored by | National Australia Bank |
| Date | 1 September 2017 |
| Country | Australia |
| Ron Evans medallist | Andrew McGrath (Essendon) |
| Television/radio coverage | |
| Network | Fox Footy |
The AFL Rising Star is an Australian rules football award presented annually to the player adjudged the best young player in the Australian Football League (AFL) for the year. An eligible player is nominated for the award each round during the AFL's regular season, and a panel of experts votes for the winner at the end of the season.[2]
During the 2017 season, the award was sponsored by National Australia Bank, and the winner announced in a presentation held on 1 September 2017 and broadcast on subscription television by Fox Footy.[3][4] The voting panel for this season consisted of eleven members, all of whom were AFL officials or former players: Kevin Bartlett, Luke Darcy, Andrew Dillon, Danny Frawley, Glen Jakovich, Chris Johnson, Cameron Ling, Gillon McLachlan, Matthew Richardson, Warren Tredrea and Kevin Sheehan.[5] The winner was Essendon player Andrew McGrath, who polled 51 votes.[1] McGrath became only the third number-one draft pick to win the award, and the second Essendon recipient.[5]
The club that garnered the most individual nominations this season was Carlton with five players nominated for the award.[6] This was a club record and the equal-second most nominations a club has garnered in an individual season, behind Greater Western Sydney's eight nominations in the 2012 season.[7][8] Brisbane Lions player Alex Witherden, who received a nomination in round 17, was nominated for the award again in the 2018 season—becoming the eleventh player ever to be nominated twice for a Rising Star award.[9]
- ^ a b "Essendon's Andrew McGrath wins AFL's Rising Star award". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Australian Associated Press. 1 September 2017. Archived from the original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "Who is eligible for the NAB AFL Rising Star award?". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. 29 April 2015. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ Gaskin, Lee (10 October 2016). "NAB signs on as AFL Women's League naming-rights sponsor". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "AFL details events for Celebration of Football". westernbulldogs.com.au. Telstra Media. 26 July 2017. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ a b Schmook, Nathan (1 September 2017). "Dons' top draftee named Rising Star winner". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
- ^ Guldon, Jacqueline (31 August 2017). "Carlton's Rising Star hopefuls". carltonfc.com.au. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
- ^ "Curnow fourth in Rising Star". carltonfc.com.au. Telstra Media. 1 September 2017. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
- ^ "Carlton aiming for Rising Star history". Triple M. Southern Cross Austereo. 21 June 2017. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
- ^ McGowan, Marc (21 May 2018). "Lion joins dual Rising Star nom club". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2019.