Classy Cat wins 2024 Rising Star

GEELONG Cats player Oliver Dempsey has been crowned the 2024 Telstra AFL Rising Star, receiving the Ron Evans Medal at the AFL Awards last night (Thursday, August 29).

Dempsey won the award with 52 votes ahead of North Melbourne’s George Wardlaw (43 votes), the Brisbane Lions’ Kai Lohmann (21 votes) and St Kilda’s Darcy Wilson (15 votes).

The 21-year-old received the Ron Evans Medal and $20,000 thanks to Telstra at the AFL Awards ceremony tonight.

Dempsey polled a maximum five votes from nine of the 11-member All-Australian panel, while Wardlaw received four votes from nine of the panel and the maximum five from one panellist.

Dempsey has been a standout player for the Cats, who finished third at the conclusion of this year’s home and away season.

He becomes the second player from the Cats to win the award, alongside Joel Selwood who won in 2007.

The 187cm forward kicked 21 goals and averaged almost 18 disposals from his 23 games this season. He registered more than 20 disposals in nine games and had an impressive 23 goal assists and 125 score involvements across the season.

Dempsey was nominated for the Telstra AFL Rising Star award in Round 1 after kicking three goals and registering 15 disposals against St Kilda.

He was selected with pick 13 in the 2022 Rookie Draft from Old Carey after playing community footy with Boroondara Hawks and juniors with the Hawthorn Citizens.

2024 Telstra AFL Rising Star voting:

• 1st place – Oliver Dempsey (Geelong Cats): 52 votes
• 2nd place – George Wardlaw (North Melbourne): 43 votes
• 3rd place – Kai Lohmann (Brisbane Lions): 21 votes
• 4th place – Darcy Wilson (St Kilda): 15 votes
• 5th place – Colby McKercher (North Melbourne): 12 votes

Allocation of votes:

Andrew Dillon (Chair)
5. Oliver Dempsey (Geelong Cats)
4. George Wardlaw (North Melbourne)
3. Darcy Jones (GWS GIANTS)
2. Darcy Wilson (St Kilda)
1. Colby McKercher (North Melbourne)

Eddie Betts
5. Oliver Dempsey (Geelong Cats)
4. George Wardlaw (North Melbourne)
3. Darcy Jones (GWS GIANTS)
2. Lawson Humphries (Geelong Cats)
1. Bodhi Uwland (Gold Coast SUNS)

Jude Bolton
5. Oliver Dempsey (Geelong Cats)
4. George Wardlaw (North Melbourne)
3. Matt Roberts (Sydney Swans)
2. Darcy Wilson (St Kilda)
1. Kai Lohmann (Brisbane Lions)

Nathan Buckley
5. Oliver Dempsey (Geelong Cats)
4. George Wardlaw (North Melbourne)
3. Bodhi Uwland (Gold Coast SUNS)
2. Darcy Wilson (St Kilda)
1. Kai Lohmann (Brisbane Lions)

Kane Cornes
5. Oliver Dempsey (Geelong Cats)
4. George Wardlaw (North Melbourne)
3. Darcy Wilson (St Kilda)
2. Bodhi Uwland (Gold Coast SUNS)
1. Kai Lohmann (Brisbane Lions)

Abbey Holmes
5. George Wardlaw (North Melbourne)
4. Oliver Dempsey (Geelong Cats)
3. Colby McKercher (North Melbourne)
2. Kai Lohmann (Brisbane Lions)
1. Bodhi Uwland (Gold Coast SUNS)

Glen Jakovich
5. Oliver Dempsey (Geelong Cats)
4. Kai Lohmann (Brisbane Lions)
3. Colby McKercher (North Melbourne)
2. George Wardlaw (North Melbourne)
1. Bodhi Uwland (Gold Coast SUNS)

Matthew Pavlich
5. Oliver Dempsey (Geelong Cats)
4. George Wardlaw (North Melbourne)
3. Kai Lohmann (Brisbane Lions)
2. Colby McKercher (North Melbourne)
1. Bodhi Uwland (Gold Coast SUNS)

Laura Kane
5. Oliver Dempsey (Geelong Cats)
4. George Wardlaw (North Melbourne)
3. Colby McKercher (North Melbourne)
2. Kai Lohmann (Brisbane Lions)
1. Darcy Wilson (St Kilda)

Josh Mahoney
5. Kai Lohmann (Brisbane Lions)
4. George Wardlaw (North Melbourne)
3. Oliver Dempsey (Geelong Cats)
2. Darcy Wilson (St Kilda)
1. Logan Morris (Brisbane Lions)

Kevin Sheehan
5. Oliver Dempsey (Geelong Cats)
4. George Wardlaw (North Melbourne)
3. Darcy Wilson (St Kilda)
2. Kai Lohmann (Brisbane Lions)
1. Caleb Windsor (Melbourne)