Interesting article for those still looking for something...

[Colliwobblers]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/rising-star-award-winner-dyson-heppell-overtaken-already/story-fncqi979-1226306446365

[Slashers]

Can't open that article. Need a stupid rip-off digital pass.

[Fireballz]

Can't open that article. Need a stupid rip-off digital pass.

Ditto. Someone give us the gist of it  :P

[nostradamus]

l think its just a ludicrous piece of journalism......purely an opinion piece

[kilbluff1985]

google the name of the article and click on first link should work

[S_Coach99]

l think its just a ludicrous piece of journalism......purely an opinion piece

sounds like really get your money worth with the digital pass

[Colliwobblers]

THE news was almost lost amid the amid the Christmas rush and the glitter of the Big Bash, but it hit those in the know for six.
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On December 17, Sam Reid signed an extraordinary five-year contract extension with Sydney, ensuring he would remain a Swan until the end of 2017.

In an era of shorter contracts as clubs and players test the market, it was an amazing show of faith by both parties.

But it was a massive statement by the Swans, in particular.

In Andrew Ireland's era of power at the club, which started in 2003, only two others have been given the "high five". Their names are Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin.

Reid was contracted until the end of 2012 anwyay, but the extension not only stone-walled the vultures at the GWS Giants ... it blew them away.

To agree to be locked away for so long, it is safe to assume Reid will receive somewhere in the region of $2-2.5 million over the five-year extension.

It may be front-ended to act as a carrot, or back-ended to reward him for what is certain improvement, but either way you would think it would average out at around $450,000-500,000 a season.

Given the inflationary nature of footy, anything less and Reid could feel dudded.

So is Reid worth the hype and the dollars at the age of 20? The answer is a resounding yes. So resounding is the yes, Hard Boiled rates Reid as the No.1 of all the Rising Star nominees from last year.

The rating is not based not only on form from last season, but also looking ahead. Each nominated player is rated from one to 24 as if they were all in a talent pool and the draft was tomorrow.

Essendon's Dyson Heppell, who won the Rising Star Award last year with 44 votes, is rated sixth. Eagle Luke Shuey, second with 37, slips to a respectable fifth.

The formula is all about weighing up potential "upside" and which players will improve rapidly and burst into the elite.

It may just be the deepest list of Rising Star talent ever assembled.

But someone has to finish last and the unlucky one was Port's Jasper Pittard, who was deemed good enough to be the Power's designated kick-in player.

RISING STAR REVISITED

1. Sam Reid (Sydney)
Beefed up over summer and ready to take another step. A bit like a young Chris Grant ... agile, with an elite ability to read the ball in the air, making conested marks look effortless. Needs work on kicking yips, but that can be fixed.

2. Jack Darling (West Coast)
Just does everything well. Again, a forward target. Must be a premium on guys who can haul in contested grabs. Champion Dats say he was best player 190cm-plus at putting pressure on last year.

3. Zac Smith (Gold Coast)
A young Michael Gardiner. Big beasts so valuable. Finished third in Rising Star; matches spot here.

4. David Swallow (Gold Coast)
Taken No.1 for a reason. Not outstanding last year, but bloody good. Stats comparable to Chris Judd year one.

5. Luke Shuey (West Coast)
Would he have won Rising Star last year if he was at a Victorian club? Sure bet ... 10-year star.

6. Dyson Heppell (Essendon)
So much time and poise and hard at it. No shame in being sixth, just think others will improve more.

7. Brandon Matera (Gold Coast)
Often a gem amid the rubble last season. We ain't seen nothing yet. So clever and clean.

8. Andrew Gaff (West Coast)
Blue-chip midfielder. Will play 200. Ready to blossom from here.

9. Daniel Menzel (Geelong)
Looks every bit like the next Steve Johnson. Enough said.

10. Mitch Duncan (Geelong)
Another sure thing from the Cats' footy factory. Midfielder who can mark overhead. No-risk selection.

11. Trent McKenzie (Gold Coast)
Booming boot, good leap and clean hands. Would be even better if he lowered his eyes a little and stopped attempting so many bombs from 50m-plus.

12. Allen Christensen (Geelong)
Revelation who has done it on the big stage. Will only get better. That makes three Cats in top 12 ... who said the era was over?

13. Luke Dahlhaus (Western Bulldogs)
Came from a long way back as a rookie, and we are waiting to see more, but the kid has undoubted X-factor. Will push into midfield once tank, and his spot-up kicking, improves.

14. Alex Fasolo (Collingwood)
Has magic and swagger. Could have been higher. Toss up with him, Dahlhaus and Christensen. All like a goal and bring something different.

15. Liam Jones (Western Bulldogs)
Finished top-five in contested marks in competition as a 20-year-old. Under theory that key-position types deserve "overs", can not be any lower. Like to see him win more ball, though.

16. Luke Bruest (Hawthorn)
Ready to become a serious contrubutor. A 40-goal-a-season player - as early as this year.

17. Reece Conca (Richmond)
Stiff to be so low. Underlines talent in the 24. Seen a bit of him at half-back, but would like to see more through the middle. Will be very good, but was he worth the No.6 national draft pick Richmond used? Jury out.

18. Shane Savage (Hawthorn)
Managed 17 games last year before a shoulder injury stopped him. Beautiful user of the ball. Only this low because he is probably closer to his optimum than some of the exciting players above.

19. Jack Steven (St Kilda)
In similar category to Savage. Very good player already, but not sure has same upside as younger players above.

20. Zac Clarke (Fremantle)
Tall, agile, but awaiting more evidence before we suggest he's a future superstar.

21. Jake Batchelor (Richmond)
Solid, but in massive company here. Will know more at the end of the year.

22. Sam Blease (Melbourne)
Obvious ability, but doesn't seem to be in early plans of new coach. Unknown quantity. Let's wait and see. Will he be a target of GWS given his friendship with Tom Scully?

23. Jordan Gysberts (Melbourne)
Had one huge game against Geelong. Need to see more.

24. Jasper Pittard (Port Adelaide)
Someone has to come last, and there is no shame, because it is tough get nominated. Made some blues under heavy pressure last year, but was tossed in the deep end. Again, awaiting more evidence.

LAST YEAR'S NAB RISING STAR VOTE WINNERS

Dyson Heppell (Essendon) 44
Luke Shuey (West Coast) 37
Zac Smith (Gold Coast) 21
David Swallow (Gold Coast) 18
Jack Darling (West Coast) 6
Sam Reid (Sydney) 5
Daniel Menzel (Geelong) 1
Trent McKenzie (Gold Coast) 1
Andrew Gaff (West Coast) 1
Jack Steven (St Kilda) 1

[Colliwobblers]

l think its just a ludicrous piece of journalism......purely an opinion piece

yes it is an opion piece, predicting the future has to be an opinion :) but may be helpful for someone.

[Flame]

Good work colli!

[owenbond007]

what a load of colli-wobble. Exactly what you would expect from mark stevens. You done some great work over the pre-season colli but this is a link i would prefered not to read.

[Colliwobblers]

not so much aimed at the more "veteran" fantasy coaches :)

Still a handy list of names for those "looking still"

I'm betting most people on FF have no need of new ideas for thier teams, in a bit of trouble if they are, but there are also a lot of posts going up about HELP!!! need to finalise my team...