NAB AFL Rising Star: Rd 20

Watch Michael Hurley in action

ESSENDON youngster Michael Hurley is the NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for round 20.

Hurley has been nominated for his 20 possessions and 10 marks that helped bring St Kilda’s unbeaten run to an end on Sunday.

Hurley was drafted by the Bombers with pick No.5 in last year’s NAB AFL National Draft and made a stunning debut in round one against Port Adelaide. He played on star forward Warren Tredrea and beat him.

He looked set for a big season until he strained a quad muscle at training the following week.

Hurley returned to the side in round 15 and has since impressed down back and up forward.

He started in attack against the Saints on Sunday but an injury to Dustin Fletcher forced him back into defence.

He rose to the challenge by out marking St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt in a crucial one on one contest late in the game that may have saved the game for the Bombers.

Hurley is the third Essendon player to be nominated for the award this season after David Zaharakis and Tayte Pears.

He is a graduate of the highly-credentialed Northern Knights where he was a teammate of Zaharakis, Richmond’s Trent Cotchin, Carlton’s Matthew Kreuzer, Swan Patrick Veszpremi and Melbourne’s Jack Grimes. Veszpremi is the only one of the group yet to be nominated for the NAB AFL Rising Star.