WXV Rising Star & Team of the Week 2024

[Purple 77]

Rising Star

NB: qualification  = AFL Rising Star criteria apply, and have to actually have played in the round for a WXV team

Every round, a World XVs rising star nomination is given to a standout young player whom performed well during that particular round. To be eligible to be nominated for the award, a player must be younger than 21 years of age on 1 January of the award year and have played 10 or fewer senior games before the beginning of the season.

R1: Colby McKercher (Cairo) - 88
R2: George Wardlaw (Dublin) - 102
R3: Ollie Dempsey (Cape Town) - 86
R4: Harley Reid (Dublin) - 91
R5: Will Graham (Christchurch) - 91
R6: Matthew Roberts (Buenos Aires) - 117
R7:
R8:
R9:
R10:
R11:
R12:
R13:
R14:
R15:
R16:
R17:


Team of the Week

Round 1

D: Luke Ryan [VC] (PNL), Nick Daicos (Rome), Nick Vlastuin (Cairo), Andrew McGrath (Dublin)
M: Caleb Serong [C] (Buenos Aires), Matt Rowell (Berlin), Tom Green (Buenos Aires), James Rowbottom (Christchurch)
R: Max Gawn (Seoul)
F: Jesse Hogan [VC] (Christchurch), Isaac Heeney (Toronto), Sam Flanders (Mexico City), Archie Perkins (Seoul)
U: Toby Nankervis (Cape Town), Touk Miller (London)

Coach: JBs-Hawks (Seoul)

Round 2

D: Jeremy McGovern (Buenos Aires), Liam Baker (Toronto), Tom Stewart (Cairo), Sam Taylor (Beijing)
M: Zak Butters [VC] (New Delhi), Errol Gulden (Rome), Christian Petracca (Mexico City), Willem Drew (London)
R: Kieren Briggs (Cairo)
F: Luke Jackson [C] (Berlin), Tom Papley (Cape Town), Harry McKay (Mexico City), Tom Powell (New York)
U: Caleb Serong (Buenos Aires), Timothy English (London)

Coach: iZander (Buenos Aires)

Round 3

D: Nick Vlastuin [VC] (Cairo), Hayden Young (Mexico City), Lachlan Ash (Buenos Aires), Luke Ryan (PNL)
M: James Worpel (Rome), Matt Rowell (Berlin), Nicholas Martin (New York), Willem Drew (London)
R: Max Gawn [C] (Seoul)
F: Isaac Heeney (Toronto), Harry McKay (Mexico City), Alex Neal-Bullen (Cairo), Dayne Zorko (New Delhi)
U: Tom Green (Buenos Aires), Zach Merrett (PNL)

Coach: JBs-Hawks (Seoul)

Round 4

D: Nick Blakey (Rome), Liam Duggan (Pacific), Elliot Yeo (Seoul), Harry Sheezel (Cape Town)
M: Tom Liberatore [VC] (Tokyo), Connor Rozee (Rome), Jack Steele (Cairo), Marcus Bontempelli (Pacific)
R: Rowan Marshall (Toronto)
F: Isaac Heeney [C] (Toronto), Joe Daniher (Rome), Shai Bolton (Mexico City), Sam Flanders (Mexico City)
U: Christian Petracca (Mexico City), Jordan De Goey (Buenos Aires)

Coach: upthemaidens (Pacific)

Round 5

D: Harry Sheezel (Cape Town), Elliot Yeo (Seoul), Luke Ryan (PNL), Nick Daicos (Rome)
M: Sam Walsh [VC] (Mexico City), Noah Anderson (New Delhi), Jack Steele (Cairo),  Matt Rowell (Berlin)
R: Brodie Grundy (Beijing)
F: Jake Waterman [C] (Seoul), Isaac Heeney (Toronto), Jeremy Cameron (Mexico City), Cameron Rayner (Buenos Aires)
U: Max Gawn (Seoul), Josh Treacy (Berlin)

Coach: JBs-Hawks (Seoul)

Round 6

D: Bailey Dale [C] (New York), Dan Houston (Rome), Jayden Short (Buenos Aires), Jack Bowes (Cape Town)
M: Jordan Dawson [VC] (New Delhi), Adam Treloar (Rome), Patrick Cripps (Seoul), Jack Viney (Rio de Janeiro)
R: Brodie Grundy (Beijing)
F: Harley Reid (Dublin), Dayne Zorko (New Delhi), Jye Caldwell (Seoul),  Aaron Naughton (Mexico City)
U: Tristan Xerri (Dublin), Josh Kelly (Rome)

Coach: kilblufftwo (New Delhi)

[Purple 77]

Eligible Rising Stars by Club

Beijing Pandas
Jai Culley
Jake Rogers
Jed Adams
Josh Draper
Kyah Farris-White
Kyle Marshall

Berlin Brewers
Andy Moniz-Wakefield
Angus Sheldrick
Jack O'Sullivan
Koltyn Tholstrup
Lloyd Johnston
Will Rowlands

Buenos Aires Armadillos
Clay Tucker
Harvey Thomas
Hudson O'Keefe
Luamon Lual
Luke Nankervis
Matthew Roberts
Ryan Maric
Taylor Goad
Tew Jiath

Cairo Sands
Bailey Macdonald
Bodie Ryan
Colby McKercher
Cooper Simpson
Ethan Stanley
Indhi Kirk
Nick Madden
Nick Watson
Olli Hotton
Oscar Ryan
Taj Woewodin

Cape Town Cobras
Caiden Cleary
Corey Warner
Edward Allan
James Tunstill
Ollie Dempsey
Phoenix Gothard
Reece Torrent
Shadeau Brain
Tyrell Dewar
Will Edwards

Christchurch Saints
Clay Hall
Daniel Curtin
Dante Visentini
Lachlan Charleson
Ryley Sanders
Will Graham

Dublin Destroyers
Bodhi Uwland
Brayden George
Ethan Read
George Wardlaw
Harley Reid
Hugh Jackson
Steely Green
Xavier Walsh

London Royals
Henry Hustwaite
Hugo Garcia
James Leake
Jhye Clark
Lachlan Smith
Lewis Hayes
Oscar Murdoch
Sam Darcy
Will Dawson
Zane Zakostelsky

Mexico City Suns
Archie Roberts
Billy Dowling
Coen Livingstone
Cooper Harvey
Harry Barnett
Jed Walter
Joel Freijah
Josh Sinn
Kai Lohmann
Lance Collard
Sam Banks
Tom McCallum
Will Lorenz

New Delhi Tigers
Aiden O'Driscoll
Calsher Dear
Harvey Harrison
Jaxon Binns
Kaleb Smith
Loch Rawlinson
Patrick Snell
Patrick Voss
Robert Hansen

New York Revolution
George Stevens
Harvey Johnston
Hugh Bond
Jacob Konstanty
James Willis
Oskar Faulkhead
Ted Clohesy
Toby Conway
Vigo Visentini
William McCabe

Pacific Islanders
Caleb Mitchell
Charlie Clarke
Darcy Wilson
Harry Lemmey
Harry Rowston
Max Gruzewski
Max Knobel
Max Ramsden
Mitchell Edwards
Phoenix Foster
Thomas Scully
Zac Taylor

PNL Reindeers
Blake Howes
Caleb Windsor
Isaac Keeler
Jackson Archer
Jayden Davey
Jedd Busslinger
Jordan Croft
Josh Fahey
Nate Caddy
Nathan Wardius
Oliver Sestan
Seth Campbell
Will Green

Rio de Janeiro Jaguars
Connor O'Sullivan
Cooper Vickery
Jakob Ryan
Jordyn Baker
Lachlan Cowan
Liam Fawcett
Riley Hardeman

Rome Gladiators
Angus Hastie
Angus McLennan
Ashton Moir
Darcy Jones
Jack Delean
James Van Es
Joseph Fonti
Matt Carroll
Mitchell Knevitt
Tom Brown
Tyler Sonsie

Seoul Magpies
Arie Schoenmaker
Charlie Edwards
Coby Burgiel
Elijah Tsatas
Harvey Gallagher
Jai Serong
Josh Bennetts
Kane McAuliffe
Lawson Humphries
Matthew Jefferson
Tex Wanganeen
Toby McMullin
Will Verrall

Tokyo Samurai
Alwyn Davey Jr
Billy Wilson
Cooper Hamilton
Jaiden Magor
Odin Jones
Oscar Steene
Tom Anastasopolous
Zane Duursma

Toronto Wolves
Archer Reid
Blake Drury
Conrad Williams
Harry Demattia
Hugh Davies
Kynan Brown
Logan Morris
Luke Lloyd
Ollie Murphy

[Purple 77]

Round 1

Rising Star

To the surprise of no one, and demonstrating Tasmanian might, Cairo's Colby McKercher (88) was the pick of the litter, featuring fellow top picks Harley Reid (Dublin), Caleb Windsor (PNL) and Zane Duursma (Tokyo). But it was in-fact Cape Town's Ollie Dempsey (96) who missed out, plying his trade with the Durban Pirates.


Team of the Week

A bit of deja vu for those paying attention! Last year Luke Ryan scored 171 in Round 1, and 165 this week. Last year we also had Perkins, Max, Green and Daicos... but I mainly wanted to highlight how cool Ryan is.

Not as cool as Serong (170) however, and equally cool as Jesse <3 who makes a long overdue appearance in the F1 slot. Max takes his rightful place as R1, albeit in his wrongful team.

Logan McDonald (128) left F4 for Perkins to take, which I'm sure Seoul would be both happy and frustrated with.

D: Luke Ryan [VC] (PNL), Nick Daicos (Rome), Nick Vlastuin (Cairo), Andrew McGrath (Dublin)
M: Caleb Serong [C] (Buenos Aires), Matt Rowell (Berlin), Tom Green (Buenos Aires), James Rowbottom (Christchurch)
R: Max Gawn (Seoul)
F: Jesse Hogan [VC] (Christchurch), Isaac Heeney (Toronto), Sam Flanders (Mexico City), Archie Perkins (Seoul)
U: Toby Nankervis (Cape Town), Touk Miller (London)

Coach: JBs-Hawks (Seoul)

[Purple 77]

Round 2

Rising Star

A big week for the rising stars, with a whopping 6 players posting 90+! Congratulations to Dublin's George Wardlaw (102) for notching the ton and out-edging Christchurch's Ryley Sanders (99). London's Sam Darcy (109) was the highest of the lot but plied his trade with the Princes, whilst surprise packet Harvey Thomas (107) also could have been nominated... of course he ended up at BA.


Team of the Week

Big scores to Berlin's Jackson (178) and New Delhi's Butter (175) lead the TOTW, backed by a strong contingent of regulars. London's Willem Drew and the Revolution's Powell make rare appearances, whilst Liam Baker was lucky to make it given he was an emergency! Jackson was swung up forward to make room for English on the bench, it what is probably the only time he ever will be.

D: Jeremy McGovern (Buenos Aires), Liam Baker (Toronto), Tom Stewart (Cairo), Sam Taylor (Beijing)
M: Zak Butters [VC] (New Delhi), Errol Gulden (Rome), Christian Petracca (Mexico City), Willem Drew (London)
R: Kieren Briggs (Cairo)
F: Luke Jackson [C] (Berlin), Tom Papley (Cape Town), Harry McKay (Mexico City), Tom Powell (New York)
U: Caleb Serong (Buenos Aires), Timothy English (London)

Coach: iZander (Buenos Aires)

[Purple 77]

Round 3

Rising Star

It didn't take long for Cape Town's Ollie Dempsey (86) to rectify his Round 1 missed opportunity, who looks a real find for Cape Town. Not sure what Matt Roberts (98) has to do to get a game at BA, whilst Harvey Gallagher (89) also bobbed up for Seoul's 2s.


Team of the Week

Another week, another TOTW performance from Big Max, only this time taking his rightful place as skipper at R1. Kudos as well to Willem Drew (London) for backing last week up, and special mention to Nibbler (Cairo) making a rare but worthy appearance in the forward line.

D: Nick Vlastuin [VC] (Cairo), Hayden Young (Mexico City), Lachlan Ash (Buenos Aires), Luke Ryan (PNL)
M: James Worpel (Rome), Matt Rowell (Berlin), Nicholas Martin (New York), Willem Drew (London)
R: Max Gawn [C] (Seoul)
F: Isaac Heeney (Toronto), Harry McKay (Mexico City), Alex Neal-Bullen (Cairo), Dayne Zorko (New Delhi)
U: Tom Green (Buenos Aires), Zach Merrett (PNL)

Coach: JBs-Hawks (Seoul)

[Purple 77]

Round 4

Rising Star

Harley Reid (Dublin) - 91


Team of the Week

D: Nick Blakey (Rome), Liam Duggan (Pacific), Elliot Yeo (Seoul), Harry Sheezel (Cape Town)
M: Tom Liberatore [VC] (Tokyo), Connor Rozee (Rome), Jack Steele (Cairo), Marcus Bontempelli (Pacific)
R: Rowan Marshall (Toronto)
F: Isaac Heeney [C] (Toronto), Joe Daniher (Rome), Shai Bolton (Mexico City), Sam Flanders (Mexico City)
U: Christian Petracca (Mexico City), Jordan De Goey (Buenos Aires)

Coach: upthemaidens (Pacific)

[Purple 77]

Round 5

Rising Star

Always good to celebrate the small wins at Christchurch, with Will Graham (91) taking out the round 5 nomination ahead of all others.


Team of the Week

Captain Waterman, reporting for duty.

And his trusty sidekick, Treacy.

Oh so close to having a perfect XV, with Daicos at 17th highest being the 15th man

D: Harry Sheezel (Cape Town), Elliot Yeo (Seoul), Luke Ryan (PNL), Nick Daicos (Rome)
M: Sam Walsh [VC] (Mexico City), Noah Anderson (New Delhi), Jack Steele (Cairo),  Matt Rowell (Berlin)
R: Brodie Grundy (Beijing)
F: Jake Waterman [C] (Seoul), Isaac Heeney (Toronto), Jeremy Cameron (Mexico City), Cameron Rayner (Buenos Aires)
U: Max Gawn (Seoul), Josh Treacy (Berlin)

Coach: JBs-Hawks (Seoul)

[Purple 77]

Round 6

Rising Star

Buenos Aires Matthew Roberts (117) would be fierce competition to Harley if he could actually get a gig in the 1s. Even this performance was from a call-up from the emergencies!


Team of the Week

KB is this weeks COTW, in an unusually low scoring affair where no one scored 150+. Dawson and Zorko were responsible for the NDT gong, with captaincy going to NYs Daily Bale, fresh after being made AFL sub. Bowes was important for Cape Town, as was Cripps and Caldwell for Seoul.

Special mention to Harley's debut appearance *notes down Round 6, 2024*

D: Bailey Dale [C] (New York), Dan Houston (Rome), Jayden Short (Buenos Aires), Jack Bowes (Cape Town)
M: Jordan Dawson [VC] (New Delhi), Adam Treloar (Rome), Patrick Cripps (Seoul), Jack Viney (Rio de Janeiro)
R: Brodie Grundy (Beijing)
F: Harley Reid (Dublin), Dayne Zorko (New Delhi), Jye Caldwell (Seoul),  Aaron Naughton (Mexico City)
U: Tristan Xerri (Dublin), Josh Kelly (Rome)

Coach: kilblufftwo (New Delhi)