Jackson Trengove from the Port Adelaide Football Club is the Round 20 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee.
Jackson starred for the Power on Saturday against West Coast at AAMI Stadium, playing on Cox, Naitanui and Lynch and gathering 23 possessions and five tackles to help his side to a thrilling one point victory over the Eagles.
Port Adelaide senior coach, Matthew Primus said that Jackson had developed very well this season whilst playing in a variety of positions.
“Jackson has come on in leaps and bounds this year,” said Primus.
“We’ve asked him to perform a variety of roles, especially in the first half of the season where he helped out in the ruck and then played a role up forward as well.
“In the latter part of the year we’ve been able to settle him down back where we think he’s best suited and in the last month he’s done some good jobs on quality forwards such as Jarryd Roughead and Justin Koschitzke.
“He played very well again on the weekend and despite taking a heavy knock he got through the game and this nomination is a just reward for his efforts across the season.”
Recruited from the Calder Cannons after representing Vic Metro in the 2008 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, Jackson was Port Adelaide’s second selection (selection 22 overall) at the 2008 NAB AFL Draft.
Jackson’s first season with the Power last year was focused on ensuring he fully recovered from a severe hamstring injury suffered midway through 2008, before making a promising return to the field with SANFL side Port Adelaide in May, 2009.
Jackson wore a Power guernsey for the first time in the 2010 NAB Cup and was rewarded with a round-one debut against North Melbourne. He has now played 17 of a possible 20 games for Port Adelaide in his debut season.
Following each round of the home and away season, a panel of judges will select a NAB AFL Rising Star nominee.
At the completion of the season, one of these nominees will be chosen as the 2010 NAB AFL Rising Star.
The 2010 NAB AFL Rising Star will receive a personal investment folio and a dedicated personal banker, courtesy of NAB.
NAB will recognise the junior clubs that helped foster the early careers of the nominated players. Each of the 22 clubs will receive a NAB Club Recognition Award, a package of practical and financial resources designed to assist them in developing future champions.
The NAB AFL Rising Star is the pinnacle of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfil their dream of playing in the AFL.