Although the Brisbane Lions currently sit 15^th on the AFL ladder with just six wins from 18 matches, there is a real sense of excitement permeating throughout the Hyundai Centre and among fans – and it’s largely due to the wealth of young talent that is building at the Club.

The Lions have not only secured victories from each of their past two matches against Gold Coast and Melbourne, but they’ve done so with a side that boasts eight players aged 20 or under.

One of those players, 18-year-old Darcy Gardiner, earned a Rising Star nomination after amassing more AFL Ratings Points than any other first-year player in Round 19.

Gardiner collected 18 disposals (17 of which were effective), took 12 marks, and contributed three score assists against the Demons, to become the third Lions player to receive a Rising Star nod after James Aish (Round 6) and Lewy Taylor (Round 9).

The Lions now boast more Rising Star nominees than any other Club in 2014, with Essendon, St Kilda, GWS Giants, Carlton, and the Western Bulldogs each having two.

What’s more, there is a good chance the Lions could have more before the season is finished.

Daniel McStay (three goals) and Michael Close (two goals) were both influential against the Demons on Sunday, while Marco Paparone has been desperately unlucky to miss out thus far given he’s had 20 or more disposals on four separate occasions.

Should two of the aforementioned players get their due recognition in the final four weeks of the season, then it will set a new Club record for most Rising Star nominees.

However, they will have some stiff competition in the form of other eligible contenders such as Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs), Jack Martin (Gold Coast), Shane Kersten (Geelong), and Tom Boyd (GWS Giants).

The Club’s record amount of Rising Star nominees currently stands at four, which has been achieved three times – in 1994 (Fitzroy), 1999, and 2005.

The 1999 crop of Lions Rising Stars is particularly noteworthy as it included three future premiership stars in Simon Black, Luke Power, and Tim Notting.

Of the 2014 class of Rising Stars, James Aish remains one of the favourites to claim the award, while teammate Lewy Taylor has firmed considerably in recent weeks to sit on the seventh line of betting with some agencies.

Gardiner’s odds might not be as short as his fellow 2014 nominees, however ask anyone at the Club and they’ll tell you that his contribution has been just as valuable.