Tom Nicholls, this week’s NAB AFL Rising Star nominee says the opportunity of playing AFL football is one he’ll never take for granted.

“It’s good to be recognised alongside some of the competition’s best up-and-coming players like Jaeger O’Meara and Chad Wingard,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

“Definitely pretty privileged and stoked that’s for sure.”

The 201cm ruckmen becomes the second Gold Coast SUNS player to be nominated for the Rising Star award, following O’Meara’s nomination for Round Five. 

While Nicholls’ recall came on the back of serious injuries to key players Zac Smith and Charlie Dixon, the 21-year-old Victorian has made the most of his opportunity – collecting a superb 52 possessions in his last three matches, evidence that if his form continues, the GC SUNS have a three-way battle for their number 1 ruck spot. 

“It was unfortunate for Smitty (Zac Smith) to do his ACL and Charlie to have injured his ankle but I’ve really just tried to focus on the one-percenters and playing my role for the team.”

The Fijian-heritage bigman Gold Coast SUNS reserves coach Shaun Hart and former Port Adelaide ruck legend Matthew Primus for his recent on-field success.

“They’ve been a massive help for me just in terms of teaching me to go into every contest and not be too satisfied,” Nicholls said.

“Matty (Primus) has been a massive role model as a person and as a former player, but I’ve also be lucky enough to work with Jeff White and Josh Fraser as well who have been really helpful for me as a ruckmen so having that support has definitely helped me.”

Although Nicholls had to wait 749 days before playing another AFL Premiership match, the Gold Coaster said he always held hope he would get another crack at the first grade.

“You always have self-belief,” he said.

“It was over two years, in between games, so it was a long time but I definitely relished it when it came.”

The in-form Nicholls was considered a “nose ahead” of Daniel Gorringe by Guy McKenna after goldcoastfc.com.au broke the news Zac Smith would miss the remainder of the 2013 Premiership Season with a ruptured ACL, but the senior coach opted to go with the latter - spurring Nicholls to lift his intensity at NEAFL level. 

“I might have thought I might have had an opportunity thrown my way but as I’ve learned along the way in footy you have to learn to roll with the punches and take it as it comes.

“I think it has helped me for sure.”

“I just keep putting my head down and working as hard as I can.”