Alyssa Bannan has been selected as a Round 2 AFLW Rising Star nominee.
The 19-year-old produced an eye-catching display in Melbourne’s 16-point win over Richmond at Punt Road Oval, collecting eight disposals and booting two goals.
Among her majors was an early contender for Goal of the Year.
The speedster collected the ball from teammate Lily Mithen on the defensive side of the centre circle, before taking off on a dashing two-bounce run and kicking truly.
Bannan played junior football with both South Morang and Diamond Creek Women’s.
She was a member of the Northern Knights 2019 NAB League Girls premiership, as well as the NFNL’s historic Under-15 Girls team which claimed the title at the AFL Victoria Metro Junior Championships in 2017.
The goal on the go…go…GOOOO! 🏃♀️
Catch our chat with @MelbourneAFLW‘s Alyssa Bannan as she talks us through the goal that set the competition alight on Friday night.#AFLW pic.twitter.com/T0hJVkC14i
— AFL Women’s (@aflwomens) January 18, 2022
Bannan was selected by Melbourne with pick No.5 in the 2020 AFLW Draft and played all 11 games in her debut season, including two finals.
Displaying her love for the game, she continued to umpire in the NFNL’s junior girls football competition in 2021, juggling her umpiring commitments while playing with Casey Demons in the VFL Women’s competition.
Players are eligible for the AFLW Rising Star if they are 21 years and under as of January 1, 2022, and have not been previously nominated. Two players will be nominated per home-and-away round of the NAB AFLW season.
Bannan was nominated alongside last year’s No.1 draft pick Charlie Rowbottom, who helped steer the Gold Coast Suns to their first win in 672 in a 13-point triumph at Whitten Oval.
The NFNL congratulates Alyssa on her nomination and wishes her the best of luck for the 2022 AFLW season.
