Geelong's Lawson Humphries has continued a fairy-tale start to his AFL career by being rewarded with a Rising Star nomination this week.
The Nyul Nyul, Oomiday and Worrora man was nominated after an impressive performance in the Cats' 20-point win over Collingwood last Friday night at the MCG.
Humphries collected 23 disposals at 95 per cent efficiency and hauled in a match-high 13 marks, including a couple of courageous grabs in his team's defensive half.
Cats captain Patrick Dangerfield said after the Magpies win that he was impressed with the young West Australian's skillset.
"He thinks a step ahead, he understands the game really well and it is a pretty incredible story," Dangerfield said.
"As soon as he got into our program it was like man, nobody can pick what foot he is and he retains the ball every time he gets it.
"He bided his time through the VFL this year, but we always knew that when he eventually came into the side, good luck dislodging him.
"As a player you fall in love with Lawson even more because he is such a great person, so when you add those things together he is such a positive, vibrant personality and it is infectious."
Much has been spoken about Humphries' rise from a WAFL reserves player to quickly becoming a key member of the Cats' defence.
Humphries was taken with selection 63 in last year's AFL National Draft and is quickly emerging as one of the biggest steals from the entire crop.
He quickly made an impact at VFL level, averaging nearly 22 disposals across his 11 games, including a 28-disposal one-goal effort against the Sydney Swans last month.
Dangerfield told SEN that he couldn't grasp the fact that Humphries only played a handful of games in the WAFL last year.
"He didn't spend his whole year in the seniors and nothing against where he's come from but what the hell are they thinking because as soon as he got into our program it was like 'man no one can pick what foot he is'," he said.
"He just thinks a step ahead, understands the game really well and it's a pretty incredible story and once again it kudos to our recruiters acknowledging and finding the talent."
AFL champion and dual Norm Smith Medallist Luke Hodge said that Humphries played with a maturity beyond his years.
"His skill, his understanding of the game and he understands where to spread so it must be pretty good for the Cats to see someone like that have an impact straight away," Hodge said.
"In three games he looks like he's played 100 games."
Humphries is the second Geelong player and the first Indigenous man to receive a Rising Star nomination in 2024.
