AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
ALLEN CHRISTENSEN from the Geelong Cats is the Round 18 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee.
Christensen, 20, was one of the Cats' best in their 62-point win over Richmond on Sunday with 26 possessions, six tackles, five marks and two goals.
The forward-midfielder made his AFL debut in round 2 and has played 11 matches. Over the past five weeks he has averaged 20 possessions and has kicked eight goals.
Christensen (pictured) is the third Cat to be nominated for the rising star this year.
Geelong coach Chris Scott said Christensen has been in terrific form over the past four weeks.
"Allen has shown so far this year that he has a great AFL career ahead of him. We have asked him to perform a role week in week out and to his credit he has shown great maturity and poise in doing what is asked of him," Scott said.
"His contribution to the side has been outstanding and has earned him a lot of respect."
Christensen was selection 40 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft.
He was recruited from the Lara Football Club and the Geelong Falcons.
In 2009 he represented Vic Country in the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships, was runner-up in the Morrish Medal and was named in the TAC Cup team of the year.
In 2010, he played 16 games for Geelong's VFL side and finished fourth in the best and fairest.
Christensen is the nephew of former Cats Marty and Damien Christensen and is also a relative of the Long and Rioli families.
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 2011 NAB AFL Rising Star.
The 2011 NAB AFL Rising Star will receive a personal investment folio and a dedicated personal banker, courtesy of NAB.
* Christensen is the second Indigenous footballer to win nomination for the Rising Star award following Gold Coast's Brandon Matera's nomination in round 5.
Photo courtesy Slattery Media Group
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 26/07/2011 16:15