Essendon key position prospect, Michael Hurley, has been rewarded for his impressive individual performance against St Kilda last Friday night, today being named the Round 18 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee. 
 
The 20-year-old was one of the best players in the Bombers' 33-point win against the Saints in which he gathered 30 disposals (18 kicks and 12 handpasses) and 13 marks in a key defensive role.
 
Essendon coach Matthew Knights said Hurley had improved with every match he has played this season.

""It has been really pleasing for Michael to be able to gather experience in both the forward line and backline this season and to see him really grow in those roles,"" Knights said.
 
""We expect this experience to hold him in good stead as a player and we believe his flexibility will be of assistance to the team in the future.""
 
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Hurley made his AFL debut in Round One 2009 and has now played a total of 25 matches. He has played 15 matches in 2010, playing every game since Round Four and has kicked 12 goals.

Recruited from the Macleod Football Club in Melbourne, Hurley was the Bombers’ first selection (fifth overall) at the 2008 NAB AFL Draft. He is also a dual NAB AFL Under 18 All-Australian and graduate from the AIS-AFL Academy.

He is the second Essendon player to be nominated following Jake Melksham in Round Eight.

Hurley joins a select group of players who have been nominated for the NAB AFL Rising Star twice. The 193cm, key position player was first nominated in Round 20, 2009 after another Essendon victory against St Kilda.
 
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Players nominated for the NAB AFL Rising Star twice:

Michael Braun (West Coast), Round 14, 1997, Round 1, 1998

Craig Callaghan (Fremantle), Round 16, 1995, Round 22, 1996

Nathan Jones (Melbourne), Round 20, 2006, Round 17, 2007

Duncan Kellaway (Richmond), Round 15, 1993, Round 24, 1994

Mark LeCras (West Coast), Round 22, 2006, Round 20, 2007

Luke Power (Brisbane), Round 2, 1998, Round 17, 1999