Dick earns Rising Star nomination
09/06/2009 1:26 PM
Collingwood young gun Brad Dick has been rewarded for his impressive form this year by being named the AFL Rising Star nominee for Round 11.
Dick produced the best performance of his 11-match career on Monday, booting five goals in the Magpies' 66-point demolition of Melbourne.
After coming back into the team in Round 9, the 20-year-old has kicked nine goals and averaged 19 disposals a game to cement his place in the best 22.
It is just reward for Dick who contemplated giving the game away after missing the entire 2008 season due to a knee injury.
"When I did my knee halfway through the year (last year) I'd had enough," he said after the Queen's Birthday match against Melbourne.
"I just got a bit down and didn't even want to be here because I was sick of not playing football but coming out with the boys and wearing the Collingwood jumper is just an amazing feeling and I love it."
Dick is Collingwood's second Rising Star nominee for the year following Jaxson Barham's nomination in Round 4.