Morton looks excellent value to me at $16.00.

Melbourne Players :

Ricky Petterd (Melbourne) 6.00

Cale Morton (Melbourne) 16.00

Simon Buckley (Melbourne) 26.00

Jack Grimes (Melbourne) 51.00

James Frawley (Melbourne) 51.00

Jace Bode (Melbourne) 51.00

Addam Maric (Melbourne) 67.00

Colin Garland (Melbourne) 67.00

Isaac Weetra (Melbourne) 67.00

Kyle Cheney (Melbourne) 151.00

Tom McNamara (Melbourne) 151.00

Top 12 :

Tom Hawkins (Geelong) 4.00

Ricky Petterd (Melbourne) 6.00

Andrejs Everitt (Western Bulldogs) 6.00

Matthew Kreuzer (Carlton) 8.00

Trent Cotchin (Richmond) 8.00

Matthew Leuenberger (Brisbane) 11.00

Scott Gumbleton (Essendon) 14.00

Lachlan Hansen (Kangaroos) 14.00

Cale Morton (Melbourne) 16.00

Rhys Palmer (Fremantle) 16.00

Robert Gray (Port Adelaide) 17.00

Ben Reid (Collingwood) 21.00

Top 12 :

Tom Hawkins (Geelong) 4.00

Ricky Petterd (Melbourne) 6.00

Andrejs Everitt (Western Bulldogs) 6.00

Matthew Kreuzer (Carlton) 8.00

Trent Cotchin (Richmond) 8.00

Nice bit of respect shown for Petterd.

I wouldn't bother with Cotchin. Doubt he'll be playing early in the season after his broken ankle recovery.

No mention of Newton?

The line is then games or less, NOT less than ten games.

That's my understanding, I'll double check...

The winner must be under the age of 21 at January 1 of that year, must not have played more than 10 games to the start of that season and must not have been suspended by the AFL or State League tribunals during the season

Newton is eligible by two months, and one game!

Between Petterd and Newton we've got two of the best prospects for the 2008 award, never mind the host of other possibles.

I would guess that with Maric and Morton both being very very young, and Grimes shaking off back issues, they are all unlikely to play more than ten games this year.

So, good prospects for 09 as well.

Remember that we've had a 'podium finish' in the rising star award for four years running -

07 Jones

06 Bartram

05 Mclean

04 Davey and Rivers

It's time to take it to the next level and absolutely OWN the Rising Star Award.

I would guess that with Maric and Morton both being very very young, and Grimes shaking off back issues, they are all unlikely to play more than ten games this year.

I didn't realise that was the case with Morton. He seems like the sort of skilled player that would stand out in an award like this, but if he isn't going to play enough games, I'll save my money for Gumbleton.

I didn't realise that was the case with Morton. He seems like the sort of skilled player that would stand out in an award like this, but if he isn't going to play enough games, I'll save my money for Gumbleton.

It would seem to me that Leuenberger and Gumbleton are good value bets.

Buckley :) $26!!!

Get on it! Im going to chuck $5 on him and $5 on Morton

But $11 for Leuenberger seems good odds for me too

Kyle Cheney (Melbourne) 151.00

easy money

I didn't realise that was the case with Morton. He seems like the sort of skilled player that would stand out in an award like this, but if he isn't going to play enough games, I'll save my money for Gumbleton.

Well, yes Morton is very young and not exactly big-boned, my own judgement is he'll take some time. BUT that's just me, let's face it the kid could be a star by next weekend given his skills and fitness. You're definately not throwing money away if you pick him, but I just like the rythm of kids playing a good set of games, 6 to 9 in their first year, and preferably most of those in consecutive strings, and then getting right into it in their second.

I think of something like the Riewoldt path for Morton -

Six games in his first season.

22 games, 178 marks, the rising star award, and 11 brownlow votes in his second.

Poor Barry Predengast... he's come in to be our recruiting manager just after we got our last top-four draft pick for a decade.

Meanwhile, a side note on the Rising Star Award - how freaky was the 1993 group.

Everitt, Crawford, West, Neitz, Buckley, Hird, Fletcher, Richardson, Archer, S. Rocca, Ricciuto.

And then some.

Kyle Cheney (Melbourne) 151.00

easy money

...for the bookies.

...for the bookies.

A genuine roughie but I saw him at the function last weekend and he looks like he has the stature to go straight into AFL footy.

Not built like a kid.

...for the bookies.

Id take Cheney at those odds ahead of Morton or Grimes at theirs.

in fact I'd probably still take him ahead of the others if they were at the same odds

Cheney is the next Jones, mark my words.

Morton looks excellent value to me at $16.00.

Melbourne Players :

Ricky Petterd (Melbourne) 6.00

Cale Morton (Melbourne) 16.00

Simon Buckley (Melbourne) 26.00

Jack Grimes (Melbourne) 51.00

James Frawley (Melbourne) 51.00

Jace Bode (Melbourne) 51.00

Addam Maric (Melbourne) 67.00

Colin Garland (Melbourne) 67.00

Isaac Weetra (Melbourne) 67.00

Kyle Cheney (Melbourne) 151.00

Tom McNamara (Melbourne) 151.00

Top 12 :

Tom Hawkins (Geelong) 4.00

Ricky Petterd (Melbourne) 6.00

Andrejs Everitt (Western Bulldogs) 6.00

Matthew Kreuzer (Carlton) 8.00

Trent Cotchin (Richmond) 8.00

Matthew Leuenberger (Brisbane) 11.00

Scott Gumbleton (Essendon) 14.00

Lachlan Hansen (Kangaroos) 14.00

Cale Morton (Melbourne) 16.00

Rhys Palmer (Fremantle) 16.00

Robert Gray (Port Adelaide) 17.00

Ben Reid (Collingwood) 21.00

Matthew Leuenberger is my bet, showed some real quality late last year...

Morton is the best melbourne value bet, likely to play earlier than the rest.

Can't comment on the others without seeing them in the flesh...

Anyone rate Hawkins chances?

Anyone rate Hawkins chances?

He's got to be a big chance, with Nathan Ablett's spot up for grabs

Id take Cheney at those odds ahead of Morton or Grimes at theirs.

in fact I'd probably still take him ahead of the others if they were at the same odds

Cheney is the next Jones, mark my words.

Cheney is the next Bartram.

I've been told Cheney's mentality to the game is a lot like Bartrams in '06 and coachs love that hungry, determined outlook.

Although, my tip would be Leunberger for Rising star.

The kid more then held his own in his first year with some brilliant work done between him, Power and Black.

Judges are impressed with youngsters holding down KPP or Ruck.

Judges are impressed with youngsters holding down KPP or Ruck.

Hardly. Here are the past rising stars:

Only 4 out of 14 have been KPPs. No rucks to be seen there . (Kosi and Goodes played KPP in his first year.)

1993: Nathan Buckley (Brisbane Bears)

1994: Chris Scott (Brisbane Bears)

1995: Nick Holland (Hawthorn)

1996: Ben Cousins (West Coast Eagles)

1997: Michael Wilson (Port Adelaide)

1998: Byron Pickett (Kangaroos)

1999: Adam Goodes (Sydney Swans)

2000: Paul Hasleby (Fremantle)

2001: Justin Koschitzke (St Kilda)

2002: Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)

2003: Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)

2004: Jared Rivers (Melbourne)

2005: Brett Deledio (Richmond)

2006: Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide)

2007: Joel Selwood (Geelong)

Id take Cheney at those odds ahead of Morton or Grimes at theirs.

in fact I'd probably still take him ahead of the others if they were at the same odds

Cheney is the next Jones, mark my words.

That's a bold statement. Seems unlikely given their respective ratings as juniors, but let's hope you're right.

where did these odds come from?

No mention of Newton?

The line is ten games or less, NOT less than ten games.

That's my understanding, I'll double check...

The winner must be under the age of 21 at January 1 of that year, must not have played more than 10 games to the start of that season and must not have been suspended by the AFL or State League tribunals during the season

Newton is eligible by two months, and one game!

If he is eligible, he'd definitely have to be part of that top 12 list you'd think?!

Probably a wish more than anything, but IMO he looks set to make a bigger impact this year, and would be right up in my top 5 for the award.

Hardly. Here are the past rising stars:

Only 4 out of 14 have been KPPs. No rucks to be seen there . (Kosi and Goodes played KPP in his first year.)

1993: Nathan Buckley (Brisbane Bears)

1994: Chris Scott (Brisbane Bears)

1995: Nick Holland (Hawthorn)

1996: Ben Cousins (West Coast Eagles)

1997: Michael Wilson (Port Adelaide)

1998: Byron Pickett (Kangaroos)

1999: Adam Goodes (Sydney Swans)

2000: Paul Hasleby (Fremantle)

2001: Justin Koschitzke (St Kilda)

2002: Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)

2003: Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)

2004: Jared Rivers (Melbourne)

2005: Brett Deledio (Richmond)

2006: Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide)

2007: Joel Selwood (Geelong)

That doesn't prove squat.

That just proves how hard it is for youngsters to hold form as a KPP or ruck all season.

So when a decent big holds form all year, the judges will give more recognition then a midget having the same year.

IMO Leunberger is that big.

btw 5 (that's 5) out of 14 is a pretty good ratio.

That's a bold statement. Seems unlikely given their respective ratings as juniors, but let's hope you're right.

Bold? Perhaps, but to me it seems he is the first in line with respect to his mentality and toughness. The others seem a bit green at this stage.

Just imagine if he did win it!!

Leunberger or Everitt for mine.

That doesn't prove squat.

That just proves how hard it is for youngsters to hold form as a KPP or ruck all season.

So when a decent big holds form all year, the judges will give more recognition then a midget having the same year.

IMO Leunberger is that big.

btw 5 (that's 5) out of 14 is a pretty good ratio.

No it does not show that.

Given the difficulty you talk about its why midfielders who are able to perform more consistently over 22 rounds get selected and big men dont get a look in.

There is no evidence that judges give more recognition to a big/KPP over a smaller player.

Like any player, Leuenberger has to perform....no matter how big they are.

where did these odds come from?

www.sportsbet.com.au

Buckley for sure!!!

20 bucks on him.

Id take Cheney at those odds ahead of Morton or Grimes at theirs.

in fact I'd probably still take him ahead of the others if they were at the same odds

Cheney is the next Jones, mark my words.

oh come on... as if you have ANY basis to say that