AFL Rising Star

Ollie Hollands Carlton

Carlton has its first AFL Rising Star nominee for 2023 in the books with Ollie Hollands receiving the round 21 nomination after his stellar outing in the Blues’ win over St Kilda last Sunday.

The outside midfielder had 20 disposals (nine kicks, and 11 handballs) and six tackles and 316 metres gained.

The 19-year-old made his AFL debut in the opening game of the season and played 11 consecutive matches before he suffered a fractured collarbone. Since returning in round 19, he has averaged 17.3 disposals and 3.7 tackles a game.

He was the 11th selection overall at the 2022 NAB AFL Draft and was drafted to the Blues from the Murray Bushrangers. He played junior footy with Wodonga in the Ovens and Murray Football League. His older brother Elijah plays for Gold Coast and received his Rising Star nomination in the same round 12 months ago. Their father Ben played eight games for Richmond (1999) and their grandfather Martin Cross played 36 games for the Blues (1961-63).

ASHLEY BROWNE that Sam Mitchell’s scorched-earth rebuild was the right move for the club and that a return to the finals is a good chance within the next couple of years.

Mitchell’s use of Finn Maginness as a pure tagger has also sparked debate about why more clubs don’t utilise such a role in the modern game.

Maginness kept Daicos to five touches before the Magpie was injured.

Having taken care of one Brownlow Medal fancy so convincingly, will he be charged with trying to curb Marcus Bontempelli, another leading contender?

It is a game the Bulldogs must win to ensure they stay in the eight, so expect them to comprehensively study the Hawks – and especially Maginness and his methods – a bit more than the Magpies did.