Fremantle midfielder Lachie Weller has received an AFL NAB Rising Star nomination for his 22 disposal, four goal performance against Brisbane in round 12.
Weller became the second Freo player in as many weeks to receive the nomination, following hard-nosed ball winner Connor Blakely’s acknowledgment for his round 11 performance.
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The nomination marks the first time Freo have had two NAB Rising Star candidates in the same season since Nat Fyfe and Anthony Morabito in 2010.
Weller’s 22 touches equalled his career high total and his four-goal haul was also a personal best for the pacey youngster.
While his performance against the Lions was impressive, Weller said his tackling and defensive pressure would always remain his priority, and this was evident with his run-down tackle of Brisbane’s Pearce Hanley, which set up his fourth goal of the game.
“That’s always my focus,” Weller said
“I feel that if I run and chase the other things will come naturally and it was a really strong effort from everyone on the night with our pressure.”
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The nomination has further displayed the positive growth of Freo’s youngsters in 2016, and Weller said the improvement is starting to be seen within the group.
“We had nine players under 50 games (against Brisbane) as well so we’re continuing to get important experience into our younger guys,” he said.
“Connor (Blakely) was really good again, Darcy (Tucker) is really improving, Sam Collins was really strong down back and Tommy Sheridan and ‘Croz’ (Crozier) were also really good bouncing off half back.
“Their leadership on the ground really helps everyone and ‘Tabs’ (Taberner) was another one who really stood up in (Matthew) Pavlich’s absence.”
Weller has averaged 14.3 disposals, 3.5 tackles and kicked nine goals so far in 2016 and will play just his 16th career game in this Saturday’s Fremantle Dockers Foundation Round clash against Port Adelaide at Domain Stadium.
