AFL: Rising Star contenders 2025

The AFL Rising Star is an annual award presented to the best young player in the AFL and to be eligible for the award you must be under the age of 21 and played no more than 10 AFL games before the start of the season.

A player will also become ineligible if they are suspended during the season.

In 2024, the hot fancy to win the Rising Star, West Coast’s Harley Reid, copped a ban, thus ending his hopes of claiming the title.

The award was first presented in 1993 and was won by Nathan Buckley, who went on to have a great career in the AFL.

Other players who have won the Rising Star and gone on to have illustrious careers include Adam Goodes, Sam Mitchell, Nick Reiwoldt and Joel Selwood.

Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos won the award in 2022, North Melbourne’s Harry Sheezel in 2023 and Geelong’s Oliver Dempsey in 2024.

There is some exciting talent to be unveiled in the 2025 season, so let’s take a look at the main contenders to win the Rising Star award.

AFL Rising Star outright odds

Levi Ashcroft (Brisbane) - 6.50
Jagga Smith (Carlton) - 6.50
Finn O'Sullivan (North Melbourne) - 10.00
Samuel Lalor (Richmond) - 11.00
Josh Smillie (Richmond) - 11.00
Harvey Langford (Melbourne) - 12.00

Levi Ashcroft (Brisbane) - 6.50

Levi Ashcroft is one of the hot fancies to win the 2025 Rising Star at 6.50 and, if he can follow in the footsteps of brother Will, he will have a great chance.

Will Ashcroft is also with the Brisbane Lions and finished runner-up in the 2024 Rising Star, whole he also won the Norm Smith medal as the Lions beat Sydney in the grand final.

Will won the Norm Smith in just his 31st AFL appearance and brother Levi is also expected to hit the ground running in the season ahead.

Jagga Smith (Carlton) - 6.50

Carlton took Jagga Smith with pick number three in the 2024 AFL draft and he is already impressing the people that matter at the club.

The 19-year-old has been impressing in pre-season and has set his sights on forcing his way into the Blues side for the opening clash in Round One.

With the potential of being a gun midfielder, Smith will be looking to shine in the Carlton engine room alongside the likes of Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh and he is 6.50 to be named Rising Star.

Finn O'Sullivan (North Melbourne) - 10.00

The Rising Star could be a two-horse race between Ashcroft and Smith, but it's a long season and anything can happen.

It means that Finn O'Sullivan is also in the mix and can be backed at 10.00 to win the Rising Star.

North Melbourne, who are desperate to climb away from the lower reaches of the AFL, took O'Sullivan with number two pick in the AFL Draft.

The versatile midfielder will be crucial in their attempts to climb the ladder in 2025 and beyond.

Samuel Lalor (Richmond) - 11.00

Samuel Lalor has the added pressure of being the number one draft pick, but many believe he can take it in his stride.

The 18-year-old has already been compared to Dustin Martin and, if he turns out to be half as good as the Tiger legend, they will have a top player on their hands.

Richmond also have another Rising Star contender on their hands in the form of Josh Smillie and both players can be backed at 11.00 to win the Rising Star.

Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.