The 2025 season is nearly underway, and a suite of youngsters are set to make their case for the AFL Rising Star award after what is regarded as one of the deepest draft pools in AFL history.
Meanwhile, a few overage talents are predicted to blossom in their second seasons at AFL level, making this year's Rising Star contest as competitive as ever.
Quickly, a refresher on the criteria to be eligible for the award.
- Players must be under the age of 21 as of January 1, 2025.
- Players can only have played 10 AFL games or less in previous seasons.
- Players must not be suspended at AFL or state-league level during the season.
Last year, second-year Cat Ollie Dempsey took home the award, albeit thanks to in-season suspensions to Harley Reid and Sam Darcy, who were tipped to claim the award over the Geelong forward.
But in a stacked crop of talent, this year's race is anyone's for the taking. Here is Zero Hanger's verdict on the top contenders for this year's Rising Star award.
11. Joe Berry
The small Port Adelaide forward has been showered in praises from teammates and coaches alike this pre-season, with innate goal sense and ground skills that have wowed in the practice matches.
Berry's liveliness inside 50 and ability to move high up the ground has been eye-catching for the Power, and has given the 18-year-old a real chance at debuting in Round 1. Maintaining his spot in the side could hold him in good stead come season's end, and potentially see him claim Rising Star honours - the first Power player to do so since Danyle Pearce in 2006.
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