2018 AFL Women's Rising Star

2018 AFL Women's Rising Star
A female athlete with long brown hair in a ponytail
Chloe Molloy, 2018 winner
Sponsored byNational Australia Bank
Date27 March 2018 (2018-03-27)
LocationPeninsula, Docklands
Reward(s)$20,000
WinnerChloe Molloy (Collingwood)
← 2017 · AFL Women's Rising Star · 2019 →

The AFL Women's Rising Star is an Australian rules football award given annually to the best young player in the AFL Women's (AFLW) for the year. Two eligible players are nominated each round of the home-and-away season; the players must have been under 21 at the beginning of the year and cannot have been previously nominated. Players suspended during the year cannot win.[1] After the season's completion, an expert panel votes on the recipient.[2]

National Australia Bank continued its sponsorship of the award in 2018, offering $20,000 in prize money.[3] The winner was announced at the AFLW's awards ceremony on 27 March, held at Peninsula, an event space in Docklands, Melbourne, and live-streamed on AFL.com.au.[4] The ten members of the voting panel were Australian Football League (AFL) officials Nicole Livingstone, who served as the chair, Steve Hocking, Josh Vanderloo and Grant Williams; AFL Victoria's Darren Flanigan; Tim Harrington of the AFL Players Association (AFLPA); St Kilda's Peta Searle; and media commentators Sharelle McMahon, Kelli Underwood and Shelley Ware.[5]

The winner was Chloe Molloy, a defender playing for Collingwood, who was the first recipient to poll the maximum 50 votes.[2][3] Molloy also won the AFLPA's inaugural award for the AFLW's best first-year player, as voted by her peers;[6] was named Collingwood's best and fairest overall and best first-year player;[7] finished equal-second in the AFLW best and fairest behind Emma Kearney; and was named in the back pocket of the All-Australian team.[8] The Western Bulldogs accrued the most nominations during the season, with five players (Libby Birch, Monique Conti, Naomi Ferres, Bonnie Toogood and Aisling Utri) selected.[5]

  1. ^ Thomas, Kirralee (7 February 2018). "AFLW: Rising Star Eligibility". afc.com.au. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  2. ^ a b "NAB AFL Women's Rising Star". womens.afl. Telstra Media. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  3. ^ a b Wood, Lauren (27 March 2018). "Collingwood's Chloe Molloy wins 2018 AFLW Rising Star award". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Watch it LIVE: W Awards from 8.30pm AEDT". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. 27 March 2018. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  5. ^ a b Olle, Sarah (27 March 2018). "AFLW Rising Star 2018: Collingwood's Chloe Molloy claims honour". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 23 November 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  6. ^ Waterworth, Ben (26 March 2018). "AFLW MVP awards: Courtney Gum crowned best player, but Chloe Molloy best first year". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  7. ^ "AFLW: First-year star takes out Magpies' B&F". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. 9 April 2018. Archived from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Emma Kearney named AFLW best and fairest but future with Dogs unclear". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 28 March 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2019.