Sam Mayes has finished equal eighth in the 2013 AFL Rising Star Award after polling one vote at the ceremony held in Melbourne on Wednesday afternoon.
While Mayes was probably never going to challenge eventual winner Jaeger O’Meara for the title, many predicted the 19-year-old from Port Pirie would finish higher on the leaderboard.
He was the only player nominated for the Lions this season, with defenders Justin Clarke and Elliot Yeo desperately unlucky not to have received a nod themselves throughout the year.
Not surprisingly, the honour of the competition’s best young talent went to outstanding Gold Coast teenager O’Meara, who polled 44 of a possible 45 votes to finish ahead of Adelaide’s Brad Crouch (31 votes) and Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines (26 votes).
North Melbourne's Aaron Mullett and Sydney Swans midfielder Tom Mitchell tied on 11 votes in equal fourth position.
The single vote was at least some reward for Mayes’ brilliant debut AFL season, which saw him play 18 of a possible 22 senior matches for the Lions and become a regular, and valuable, contributor to the side.
Of his fellow Rising Star nominees, only six played more senior games, while Mayes’ 12 goals (5th most) and average of 4.8 marks per game (4th most) ranked him inside the top five across all the eligible candidates.
His average of 16.7 disposals per game, while still impressive, is somewhat misleading considering he played only limited minutes in the two matches when he was used as the substitute.
In his 16 ‘full’ matches, Mayes averaged over 18 disposals – including six games of 20-plus possessions.
His tackle rate also improved immeasurably in the final month of the season, to the extent that 25 of his 45 tackles this season came from his final five matches.
2013 AFL Rising Star Leaderboard
44 – Jaeger O’Meara (Gold Coast)
31 – Brad Crouch (Adelaide)
26 – Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide)
11 – Aaron Mullet (North Melbourne)
11 – Tom Mitchell (Sydney)
7 – Nick Vlastuin (Richmond)
3 – Lachie Whitfield (GWS Giants)
1 – Brodie Grundy (Collingwood)
1 – Sam Mayes (Brisbane Lions)
2013 AFL Rising Star Nominee Stats
| RD | PLAYER | MT | G | D | M | T |
| 1 | Ollie Wines (PA) | 22 | 6 | 19.0 | 3.4 | 4.1 |
| 2 | Aaron Mullet (NM) | 22 | 14 | 18.8 | 4.6 | 1.6 |
| 3 | Jed Anderson (HAW) | 5 | 2 | 10.2 | 1.6 | 2.6 |
| 4 | George Horlin-Smith (GEEL) | 8 | 3 | 14.8 | 2.9 | 2.2 |
| 5 | Jaeger O’Meara (GC) | 22 | 16 | 21.6 | 4.4 | 5.0 |
| 6 | Brad Hill (HAW) | 21 | 14 | 16.0 | 2.7 | 2.1 |
| 7 | Nick Vlastuin (RICH) | 17 | 9 | 16.2 | 4.7 | 3.2 |
| 8 | Jackson Macrae (WB) | 13 | 3 | 17.9 | 2.7 | 2.7 |
| 9 | Sam Kerridge (ADEL) | 11 | 13 | 14.6 | 5.0 | 2.8 |
| 10 | Lachie Whitfield (GWS) | 19 | 8 | 17.5 | 5.4 | 2.2 |
| 11 | Tom Mitchell (SYD) | 12 | 11 | 21.0 | 3.4 | 5.3 |
| 12 | Sam Mayes (BL) | 18 | 12 | 16.7 | 4.8 | 2.5 |
| 13 | Jake Neade (PA) | 16 | 11 | 9.2 | 1.5 | 3.5 |
| 14 | Brad Crouch (ADEL) | 14 | 4 | 24.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 |
| 15 | Michael Talia (WB) | 9 | 0 | 19.3 | 4.4 | 1.2 |
| 16 | Tom Nicholls (GC)* | 8 | 2 | 13.0 | 2.4 | 5.0 |
| 17 | Adam Tomlinson (GWS) | 17 | 5 | 15.8 | 7.5 | 1.6 |
| 18 | Marley Williams (COLL) | 15 | 1 | 17.1 | 4.3 | 3.2 |
| 19 | Zac Williams (GWS) | 11 | 2 | 13.6 | 2.6 | 3.0 |
| 20 | Rory Laird (ADEL) | 18 | 1 | 18.5 | 4.1 | 2.8 |
| 21 | Jack Viney (MEL) | 13 | 3 | 17.5 | 2.8 | 4.2 |
| 22 | Brodie Grundy (COLL)# | 6 | 1 | 13.7 | 2.7 | 3.0 |
| 23 | Luke Brown (ADEL) | 21 | 1 | 14.0 | 4.2 | 1.8 |
* also averaged 23.4 hitouts
# also averaged 21.0 hitouts
THE BEST OF MAYES
Below are a selection of Mayes’ more memorable performances for the Lions in his debut AFL season.
Round 3: Gold Coast v Brisbane Lions @ Metricon Stadium
Mayes’ debut match was certainly a memorable one, with the Port Pirie teenager collecting 21 disposals and taking a game-high 10 marks to help the Lions to their first win of the season.
Round 5: Brisbane Lions v Melbourne @ The Gabba
In just his third senior match, Mayes collected a career-high 28 possessions and grabbed nine marks in the Lions’ victory over the Demons.
Round 12: Brisbane Lions v Fremantle @ Patersons Stadium
Mayes seemed to enjoy the open spaces of Subiaco, and worked tirelessly all evening against the Dockers for his 25 disposals and seven marks. Even though the Lions lost, it proved enough for him to earn a nomination for the Rising Star award.
Round 15: Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast @ The Gabba
Mayes’ 25-disposal effort in QClash 6 was arguably his finest to date. While he had found more of the ball in previous matches, his impact was far greater. His disposals were more damaging and he looked noticeably more comfortable at senior level.
Round 16: Brisbane Lions v North Melbourne @ The Gabba
Mayes played more than just a handy cameo in the team’s remarkable comeback against North Melbourne, with 21 disposals, three goals and an equal season-high six inside 50s.
Round 20: Richmond v Brisbane Lions @ The MCG
The Lions were in desperate need of a second-half spark when the trailed the Tigers by seven goals at the main break, so moved Mayes forward in the third quarter and reaped immediate benefits. Mayes booted three second-half goals to help bring the Lions within striking distance late in the game, but time eventually ran out.
Round 21: Brisbane Lions v Greater Western Sydney @ The Gabba
Mayes had a field day against the Giants, with four goals from six shots in the opening half alone. He was quieter in the second half, adding just one more behind, but had already done the damage and helped the Lions cruise to a comfortable 10-goal win.
