Jaeger O’Meara is hoping to repay the faith shown in him by the Gold Coast SUNS, after the dazzling midfielder polled 44 of the possible 45 votes to claim this year’s AFL Rising Star award.
“To the Gold Coast thank you for the opportunity and putting your faith in me, hopefully I can replay that faith in years to come,” O’Meara said in his AFL Rising Star acceptance speech.
“To the Gold Coast’s member and supporters, thank you for your support and believing in me.”
After an outstanding debut season, in which he played all 22 Premiership matches for the GC SUNS, O’Meara becomes the first Gold Coast player to win the Ron Evans Medal.
Despite tough competition from a host of stand-out first year candidates, O’Meara claimed the gong for best first-year player in emphatic fashion.
Adelaide’s Brad Crouch was O’Meara’s closest challenger on 31 votes, while Ollie Wines faired 26 votes to finish in second runner-up.
Kanagroos’ Aaron Mullett and Sydney’s Tom Mitchell also finished on 11 votes each.
Accepting the accolade in front of his family, O’Meara said the award was as much theirs as it was his.
“Thank-you to my family and friends, it is something you can share with me and thank-you for the journey.”
“To NAB, on behalf of all the players I’d like to thank you for all your support and the talent pathways you provide for all young footballers and also Virgin Australia and HostPLUS, who have done a fantastic job in supporting the team this year, thank you.”
GC SUNS senior coach Guy McKenna believes it’s just the beginning of great things to come for the superstar teenager.
“For a player to come in to a senior side and do what he has been able to do this year is unique, to do it at a football club in our position, with so many inexperienced players is purely phenomenal, “
“Each and every time Jaeger has taken the field he has played beyond his years. His teammates look up to him and lift for him that speaks volumes of his character and is a reflection of his hard work and professionalism.”
"His attitude and intensity together with his ability to crack in and win the contested footy and work both ways is fantastic and the exciting thing for all Gold Coast fans is that he will continue to improve the more he plays at this level.”
Taking to the Clubs @GoldCoastSUNS twitter handle, Captain Gary Ablett said,
“It’s fantastic for Jaeger, he is a great young player with so much improvement still to come.”
“I have no doubts Jaeger O’Meara will take his game to another level in 2014.”
Jaeger arrives back on the Gold Coast tomorrow and will meet with fans and hold a press conference at Burleigh Heads from 3:00pm
