Adelaide’s Charlie Cameron has been rewarded for his consistent season, being named the latest Rising Star nominee.
The lively forward was given the Round 13 gong after collecting 13 disposals, seven inside 50s, five tackles, four marks and a goal in the Crows’ come-from-behind win over the Lions on Saturday.
The 20-year-old has played 18 games since being drafted with the seventh pick in the 2013 rookie draft, including 11 matches in 2015.
He’s averaged 10 disposals and kicked 12 goals this season, with an equal career-high of three coming in Round 7 against St Kilda.
In case you missed Charlie Cameron's goal and pot stirring celebration #AFLCrowsHawks http://t.co/Z4g1nPQPM9
— AFL (@AFL) June 18, 2015
Adelaide coach Phil Walsh described Cameron as “an important part of our forward line, which is starting to develop some real chemistry.
“He brings an intensity and energy, and also attacks the ball and opposition with hardness.”
Cameron played baseball and rugby union at his high school in Queensland before switching over to Australian Rules when he moved to Western Australia at the age of 16.
He played for the WA side, the Newman Saints in 2012 and impressed enough to play three Colts games for the Swan Districts in the SANFL towards the end of the year.
“Charlie is an important part of our forward line, which is starting to develop some real chemistry” – Phil Walsh
After a solid pre season – his first Australian Rules based pre-season – Cameron earned a spot in the Districts’ side for Round 1 in 2013 and represented Western Australia in the National Under-18 Championships.
After being selected by the Crows in the rookie draft, Cameron made his AFL debut in Round 9 against Collingwood, collecting 13 disposals, five tackles, and a goal during a 21-point win.
He went on to play seven games and kick nine goals in his first season including a career-best three majors in a loss to the Dockers in Round 12.
Showing remarkable consistency for a young small forward, Cameron’s gone goalless only three times throughout his 18 matches at the elite level.
He’s also shown an aptitude for tackling and pressuring opponents in the forward half of the ground while being an opportunist around goals.
Cameron is the Crows’ 25th nomination for the Ron Evans Medal since the award’s inception in 1993, with one winner, Daniel Talia, coming in 2012.
Cameron follows Talia, Sam Shaw, Sam Kerridge, Brad Crouch, Rory Laird, Luke Brown, and Matt Crouch as the club’s eighth player to be nominated since 2012.
Who is the AFL’s best young gun? You can cast your vote and see how others have voted, here
RISING STAR NOMINEES FOR 2015
Round 1 – Kamdyn McIntosh (Richmond)
Round 2 – Mitch Honeychurch (Western Bulldogs)
Round 3 – Isaac Heeney (Sydney Swans)
Round 4 – Patrick Cripps (Carlton)
Round 5 – Adam Saad (Gold Coast SUNS)
Round 6 – Cory Gregson (Geelong)
Round 7 – Billy Hartung (Hawthorn)
Round 8 – Cameron McCarthy (GWS Giants)
Round 9 – Jesse Hogan (Melbourne)
Round 10 – Angus Brayshaw (Melbourne)
Round 11 – Tim Broomhead (Collingwood)
Round 12 – Tom Boyd (Western Bulldogs)
Round 13 – Charlie Cameron (Adelaide Crows)