The Gold Coast SUNS' Joel Jeffrey has been named the Round 10 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee.

Jeffrey scored five goals, took five marks, and had 10 kicks at 80 per cent disposal efficiency in Saturday's 19-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.

Playing in his sixth game, Jeffrey had two first quarter majors before kicking an impressive over-the-head goal that was nominated for the Round 10 rebel Goal of the Year.

The proud Woolwonga man from the Larrakia Nation was one of five Indigenous players for the Gold Coast SUNS who played during Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

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Joel Jeffrey Named Round 10 AFL Rising Star

Joel Jeffrey has been named the NAB AFL Rising Star for his Round 10 performance against Western Bulldogs.

He played NAB AFL Auskick before playing juniors with the Wanderers Football Club in the NTFL. The Wanderers Football Club, known as the 'Eagles' or the 'Muk Muks'.

Jeffrey was drafted in 2020 from the Wanderers Football Club in the NTFL, making his debut in Round 20, 2021 against Melbourne.

Joel will return to Darwin this weekend to live out a boyhood dream when he runs out for Gold Coast SUNS to play Hawthorn at TIO Stadium.

In his post-match press conference, Gold Coast SUNS Senior Coach Stuart Dew said the 20-year-old's performance was outstanding.

"We're proud of him and his family should be proud of him," Dew said.

"I think we saw today what he's capable of. The signs were there last week, and he got the reward today."

A NAB AFL Rising Star nominee will be named following each week of football in the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership season.

Following each week of the Home and Away season, a panel of judges select a NAB AFL Rising Star nominee. At the completion of the season, one of these nominees will be chosen as the 2022 NAB AFL Rising Star.

The 2022 NAB AFL Rising Star winner will be awarded the Ron Evans Medal, along with $20,000 from NAB and the opportunity to discuss their financial goals with a NAB Private Client Manager. NAB continues to support footballers by recognising the junior clubs that helped foster the early careers of the nominated players.

Joel Jeffrey's junior club, Wanderers Junior Football Club, which plays in the Busselton District Junior Football Association, will receive a NAB Club Recognition Award valued at $2500, comprising financial and practical resources, as a result of his Round 10 nomination.

Since supporting the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, NAB has donated over $1 million worth of resources to junior football clubs through this initiative.

The NAB AFL Rising Star is part of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfill their dream of playing in the AFL. The NAB AFL Rising Stars Program comprises the following elements:

  • NAB AFL Rising Star
  • NAB AFL Draft
  • NAB AFL Draft Combine
  • NAB AFL Under-18 Championships
  • NAB AFL Academy
  • NAB AFL Under-16 Championships
  • NAB League

NAB has been supporting footy from grassroots to the elite level since 2002, providing boys and girls with a clear pathway from NAB AFL Auskick to the big time.

2022 NAB AFL Rising Star nominees

Round 1 - Nic Martin (Essendon)

Round 2 - Jake Bowey (Melbourne)

Round 3 - Nick Daicos (Collingwood)

Round 4 - Josh Rachele (Adelaide Crows)

Round 5 - Jai Newcombe (Hawthorn)

Round 6 - Jack Ginnivan (Collingwood)

Round 7 - Jason Horne-Francis (North Melbourne)

Round 8 - Heath Chapman (Fremantle)

Round 9 - Corey Durdin (Carlton)

Round 10 - Joel Jeffrey (Gold Coast SUNS)