HIGH-flying Brisbane Lions key position player Tayla Harris and Melbourne midfielder Lily Mithen are the round two nominations for the NAB AFL Women's Rising Star award.
Harris, 19, is already well known for her high kicking action and pack marks and was signed as a Lions marquee player last July.
Born in Brisbane, Harris started playing senior footy for Zillmere in the QAWFL at just 15, winning the best and fairest award in her first season.
Her nomination comes on the back of a 12-disposal, two-goal effort in the Lions' win against Fremantle at Fremantle Oval on Sunday afternoon. Harris also took six contested marks (playing both forward and in defence) and her steady hands were a point of difference between the two sides.
Tayla Harris celebrates after kicking the sealer. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Media)
WATCH: Find out what Tayla Harris had to say post-match
Mithen, 18, played at senior level last year, representing North Geelong in the VWFL division one, and occasionally for Geelong in the VFL Women's competition (the top division in Victorian women's footy). She has also captained Vic Country at under-18 level.
Selected 73rd overall in last year’s draft, Mithen was instrumental in Melbourne's come-from-behind victory against Collingwood on Saturday night. She finished with 14 disposals and helped kick-start the Demons' run-and-carry game in the second half.
Monday was a big day for Mithen, who was told of her nomination just half an hour after finding out she had been accepted to study business marketing at RMIT University starting this year.
"I was at the club doing recovery with the girls, and (football manager) Debbie Lee walked in, told me to stand up, shook my hand and said, 'Congratulations, you're the Rising Star nominee'," Mithen said.
"I'm definitely pleased. It was a good win and I was happy with how I played. I got a bit of the ball and helped the team out, but I didn't think I starred by any stretch."
Two players will be nominated per round for the Rising Star award, with the winner chosen from the 14 nominees and announced at season's end.
