Young Lions ruck Tahlia Hickey has been recognised for a stand-out performance with a NAB AFL Women’s Rising Star nomination in the last round of the 2021 premiership season.

Hickie was one of her side’s best on Saturday collecting 16 disposals, taking four marks, laying six tackles with 15 hitouts and three clearances in her side’s narrow loss to Melbourne at Casey Fields.

The Lions’ ruck has played every match this year averaging almost nine disposals, three tackles, two clearances and 13 hitouts.

Hickie was drafted from the Lions’ Academy with selection 28 at the 2019 NAB AFL Women’s Draft. Hickie suffered two serious injuries in the space of two years prior to being drafted by the Lions.

She started her football journey with the Coorparoo Football Club in Brisbane before playing seniors in the QAFLW.

Lions AFLW Senior Coach Craig Starcevich said Hickie had gone from strength to strength this season.

“Tahlia’s big improvement came across QAFLW last year where she got a lot of minutes in the ruck and really blossomed”

“Unfortunately, in her draft year she had a benign tumour cut out of her leg and was not able to be drafted, instead she had to do things the hard way and was drafted at 19.

“We’ve been really impressed with her tenacity to come back from something like that and her performances this year have been testament to both her talent and her attitude.”

The Lions Preliminary Final opponent will be determined by the result of this weekend’s clash between Collingwood and North Melbourne.