Richmond great Matthew Richardson says star West Coast rookie Willem Duursma has ground to make up in the Rising Star race, suggesting a missed Eagles draft pick is ahead of him. The former Tigers goal kicker has picked Carlton midfielder Jagga Smith as his Rising Star favourite at the midpoint of the season. Smith is averaging 23 touches and nearly four clearances a game in his first full season after his maiden campaign was destroyed by a pre-season ACL injury last year. For comparison, Duursma
is averaging a tick under 19 disposals and three clearances per game. Smith could have ended up an Eagle in the 2024 national draft before West Coast used pick three as part of a deal to land West Australian Tiger and now club co-captain Liam Baker, which saw the selection land with the Blues. Richardson said Smith had shown consistent form throughout the season to date and will benefit from Carlton’s uptick in form since the departure of coach Michael Voss. “My Rising Star at
this point is Carlton’s Jagga Smith,” he wrote in his exclusive column for The Nightly. “This award normally goes to the guy who plays nearly every game, and Jagga has done that to this point. His lowest disposal count in any game is 17, and he has had over 20 touches in nine of his 12 games. “Over the last few weeks, his score involvements have gone up as well, showing that he is starting to be a more damaging player. “A close second would
be West Coast’s Willem Duursma.” Richardson did throw plenty of praise at the Eagles’ No.1 pick, suggesting he felt Duursma could wind up the better player in the long run. “Both will be 200-gamers,” he wrote. “If I had to crystal ball it, I’d predict Willem may end up the bigger star. I just think he has a bit more upside in his game with his marking prowess.” Duursma is ranked as elite for marking by AFL.com.au with five a game. Richardson also unveiled his
mid-season All-Australian team and his pick for the Brownlow Medal with a heavy purple flavour featuring throughout as Fremantle’s record winning run extended to 11 after the Dockers toppled the reigning premiers on their home deck last week.
Matthew Richardson, Rising Star, Jagga Smith, Carlton, Willem Duursma, West Coast Eagles, Rising Star race, ACL injury, Liam Baker, Brownlow Medal, All-Australian, Fremantle
so richardson picked smith because he plays more games? seems like common sense lol
I don’t get why people keep saying Duursma has “ground to make up” when he literally plays for West Coast. Like shouldn’t the draft pick thing decide it? Also ACL injuries last year… that’s rough but idk
Wait, Carlton got Jagga Smith from the Eagles pick? So basically Eagles messed up and then got blamed? I mean I know it’s a deal with Liam Baker or whatever but Richardson always seems like he’s hyping the team that’s doing good that week
“Both will be 200-gamers” wow ok Matt Richardson definitely knows the future. I swear Rising Star is just whoever’s team is winning more recently. And Duursma marking being elite?? isn’t that like, everyone’s job in footy lol. Anyway purple Brownlow already sounds rigged