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Lewis Roberts-Thomson of the Sydney Swans is the round 18 National AFL Rising Star nominee.
Roberts-Thomson, 19, has had a meteoric rise along the National AFL Pathway Program. A talented rugby union player living in Sydney, Roberts-Thomson had no thoughts of playing Australian Football until he played his first match at his school, North Shore, when he was 14 years old.
Within two years, Roberts-Thomson was selected for the NSW/ACT side to play in the National AFL Under 16 championships. The following year he was the only New South Welshman to make the 2000 AIS/AFL Academy Squad.
In 2001 he was named in the Under 18 All-Australian team after representing NSW/ACT the National AFL Under 18 Championships.
Roberts-Thomson was the Swans? third selection (29th overall) in the 2001 National AFL Draft. By his own admission, Roberts-Thomson had made it onto an AFL list playing fewer than 40 games.
Only a troublesome knee injury stopped him from making his debut the following year. Surgery on his patella tendon limited Roberts-Thomson?s 2003 pre-season, but since breaking into the seniors in round eight, he has only missed one match. In the close match against the Crows at AAMI Stadium last weekend, Roberts-Thomson?s performance gained high praise from coach Paul Roos. ?Roberts-Thomson was fantastic. His effort to go in there and basically ruck the whole second half was a big reason why we got back and should have won the game. It was a terrific effort,? Roos said after the game.
Roberts-Thomson, 19, has had a meteoric rise along the National AFL Pathway Program. A talented rugby union player living in Sydney, Roberts-Thomson had no thoughts of playing Australian Football until he played his first match at his school, North Shore, when he was 14 years old.
Within two years, Roberts-Thomson was selected for the NSW/ACT side to play in the National AFL Under 16 championships. The following year he was the only New South Welshman to make the 2000 AIS/AFL Academy Squad.
In 2001 he was named in the Under 18 All-Australian team after representing NSW/ACT the National AFL Under 18 Championships.
Roberts-Thomson was the Swans? third selection (29th overall) in the 2001 National AFL Draft. By his own admission, Roberts-Thomson had made it onto an AFL list playing fewer than 40 games.
Only a troublesome knee injury stopped him from making his debut the following year. Surgery on his patella tendon limited Roberts-Thomson?s 2003 pre-season, but since breaking into the seniors in round eight, he has only missed one match. In the close match against the Crows at AAMI Stadium last weekend, Roberts-Thomson?s performance gained high praise from coach Paul Roos. ?Roberts-Thomson was fantastic. His effort to go in there and basically ruck the whole second half was a big reason why we got back and should have won the game. It was a terrific effort,? Roos said after the game.
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