After finishing runner-up in the past two Rising Star awards, Essendon will be hoping for better luck when the 2001 winner is announced today. Last year Adam Ramanauskas finished second behind Paul Haselby and the year previous Dean Rioli was pipped by Adam Goodes. Today Essendon has three players who have been nominated during the season - those being Mark McVeigh, Aaron Henneman and Danny Jacobs. All three have had excellent seasons with Jacobs and McVeigh having played every senior game they have been available for while Henneman has missed only one senior match.

""All three have had very good seasons,"" Essendon recruiting manager Adrian Dodoro said. ""Mark McVeigh played just one match in 2000 and has played 21 this season. Jacobs played nine last season and Henneman played eight so they have all progressed and made the most of their chances. No matter what happens today they have a lot of good football ahead of them.""

Pushed to make a selection on which Essendon player had the best chance, Dodoro leaned towards McVeigh. ""I suppose he might have a slight edge because of where he plays and the fact he has kicked a few goals. The others have done their jobs well but may not have been as conspicuous,"" Dodoro said. ""It is a pretty hot field this year and I think we will see a lot more of every player who has been nominated.""

The 2001 Rising Star nominees are: Robert Copeland, Damian Cupido (Brisbane); Ryan Lonie (Collingwood); Aaron Henneman, Danny Jacobs, Mark McVeigh (Essendon); Adam McPhee, Dion Woods (Fremantle); Cory Enright, Cameron Ling (Geelong); Steven Greene, Brett Johnson (Hawthorn); Daniel Harris (Kangaroos); Brett Guerra (Port Adelaide); Aaron Fiora (Richmond); Caydn Beetham, James Begley, Justin Koschitzke (St Kilda); Daniel Ker (WC), Daniel Giansiracusa, Robert Murphy, Luke Penny (Western Bulldogs).