JACKSON Thurlow had a feeling a former Launceston footballer at Geelong would be this week’s Rising Star nominee.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But in his eyes it was an honour that was going to be bestowed upon teammate Jake Kolodjashnij.
With that in mind, the 21-year-old said he was surprised to discover that he was first Tasmanian since fellow former Blue, and Jake’s twin brother Kade Kolodjashnij, to be nominated for the award, which acknowledges the best young player in the AFL.
Thurlow’s journey to this moment is all the more meritorious considering the running defender’s season was in some doubt following his lacerated kidney in December.
The 16th pick in the 2012 national draft has played 15 games this season this season, and is averaging 18 touches and five marks a game, with a career-best 30 in round 6 his highlight.
He has played 25 games since making his debut in 2013.
He won his nomination for an 18-possession and five-mark outing against Sydney on Saturday.
For players eligible for the award the defender is number one for rebound 50s (53) and fourth at the club for effective kicks.
‘‘I had to work my way back into footy and fitness as I was sitting on the couch when a lot of the other guys were working hard,’’ Thurlow told The Examiner on Tuesday.
‘‘I’m really enjoying my footy at the moment, and I’m having real fun training each week and going out and playing with the boys.
’‘‘For me now it is about building some consistency and to keep on improving.
‘‘I thought I had played a really solid game [against Sydney] and achieved a lot of what I wanted to achieve going in.’’
The 190-centimetre, 82-kilogram Thurlow, who can play both tall and small and provide great run, said while he was pleased with the honour, his main focus was on helping ensure Geelong qualifies for their ninth finals series in a row.
The Cats will be searching for their fifth win a row when they meet Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday night.
‘‘As a playing group we’ve gone back to having a defence-first focus, and in the second half against the Swans we only kept them to just 11 points,’’ said Thurlow, who last month signed a three-year contract extension.
‘‘That is really good for us, knowing that we can keep a really good opposition to such a low score and we know we can stop opposition on fast runs.
‘‘The way the Hawks use the footy, pretty much every player in their team is an elite kick.
‘‘You only have to be a metre off them and they are going to use that player, so it will be really important for our defensive formation that we have to be ready for that kick which other teams wouldn’t take.’’
Thurlow was full of praise for his defensive comrade Kolodjashnij, who shut down Sydney great Adam Goodes on Saturday.
‘‘It is real exciting to not just have two Tasmanians, but two Lonnie guys at the same footy club,’’ he said.
‘‘I’m surprised he hasn’t got one [a Rising Star nomination] earlier as he just works really hard and does a lot of extra work, and I reckon he will be next, and personally thought he might have got one this week.’’
Continuing the reflective theme of his time at Launceston, Thurlow paid credit to the help of Scott Stephens, Anthony Taylor and Adam Sanders for their guidance during his time with the Blues and Tassie Mariners.
Thurlow and the Kolodjashnij brothers are three of six former Launceston Football Club players on AFL lists.
Jesse Lonergan at Gold Coast, Thomas Bellchambers at Essendon and Tim Mohr at Greater Western Sydney complete that set.