Ollie Dempsey Wins the 2024 Telstra Rising Star Award
Rising Star Award Winner
Ollie Dempsey, a shining star for the Geelong Cats, has emerged victorious as the 2024 Telstra Rising Star Award recipient. This prestigious accolade recognizes the league's most outstanding young player.
Dempsey's Triumph
With a dominant performance, Dempsey collected 52 out of a possible 55 votes. This overwhelming majority cemented his status as the frontrunner throughout the season, despite the absence of suspended youngsters Sam Darcy and Harley Reid.
Contenders and Standings
Among the contenders, North Melbourne's George Wardlaw came in a close second with 43 votes. Brisbane forward Kai Lohmann, St Kilda winger Darcy Wilson, and Kangaroos youngster Colby McKercher rounded out the top five.
Geelong's Rising Stars
Dempsey joins Joel Selwood as the only Cats players to win the Telstra Rising Star Award, which was renamed the Ron Evans Medal in 2008.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the award, players must be under 21 years of age and have played less than 10 AFL games at the start of the season. Dempsey's seven games in his first two years at Geelong made him eligible for this coveted prize.
Rising Star Panel
The winner was determined by a panel of 10 experts, including the All-Australian team selectors and AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan. Dempsey received five votes from nine of the 11 judges, solidifying his dominance.
2024 Telstra AFL Rising Star Voting
1st place: Oliver Dempsey (52 votes) 2nd place: George Wardlaw (43 votes) 3rd place: Kai Lohmann (21 votes) 4th place: Darcy Wilson (15 votes) 5th place: Colby McKercher (12 votes)
Full Voting Breakdown
The complete voting breakdown is available below, providing insights into the judges' preferences.
Historical Winners
Dempsey's victory adds to Geelong's impressive track record of producing talented young players. Check out the full list of Rising Star winners throughout history to see the league's most promising up-and-comers.