Hawthorn ruck Lucy Wales has been named a Round 7 NAB AFL Women’s Rising Star nominee after a dominant performance in her side’s 13-point win over Port Adelaide on Saturday night.
The 19-year-old had 17 hit-outs to go with 10 possessions (nine of which were contested) and five tackles - spending 100 per cent of the game on the ground.
In her debut AFLW season, Wales is ranked 10th in the competition for total hit-outs (114), with an average of 16.3. She is also averaging 10.3 disposals and 4.3 tackles after playing all seven games for Hawthorn this year.
Wales was drafted by the Hawks with Pick 22 in the 2022 NAB AFL Women’s Draft after a stellar season with the Casey Demons in the VFLW. She also represented Oakleigh JFC as a junior.
Wales joins fellow teenager Jasmine Fleming as Hawthorn’s NAB AFL Women’s Rising Star nominees.
Hawthorn General Manager - Operations & AFLW Josh Vanderloo said the nomination was a great reward for effort.
“Lucy has been outstanding for us this season, so this is a richly deserved nomination,” Vanderloo said.
“With our senior ruck Tamara Luke going down with a season-ending injury in Round 2, Lucy has stepped up seamlessly to the number one ruck position.
“What we want to see every week is progress in our playing group, and Lucy is exhibit A of that, growing in leaps and bounds with each game she plays.”
The NAB AFLW Rising Star winner will be announced at the 2022 W Awards.
All AFLW players under the age of 21 on 31 December 2022 and who have not previously been nominated as a Rising Star qualify for consideration for the award.
Two players will be nominated each week of the NAB AFLW Competition. Each of the 20 NAB AFLW Rising Star nominees throughout the season will be awarded $500 prize money from NAB to acknowledge their great achievement. In addition, NAB will continue to support the development of future footy stars by awarding junior clubs of each nominee with a $1,000 cash NAB Club Recognition Award.
Lucy Wales' junior football club is Oakleigh.
The overall NAB AFLW Rising Star winner will be awarded $20,000 from NAB and a private banker to assist with securing their financial future.
Celebrating 20 years in partnership with the AFL, NAB is proud to support the development of female footballers throughout the country from NAB AFL Auskick through to the NAB AFLW Competition.
