Sportsbet NAB Rising Star: AFL odds, nominees and eligibility

Where to find Sportsbet Rising Star odds

For Sportsbet Rising Star betting, start with the operator’s AFL Rising Star event page or search its Australian rules football section. The event page says Sportsbet expects to offer markets and odds during the 2027 season.

At the 5 November 2026 research check, the event page’s odds link redirected to a general Australian rules page. No 2027 players or prices could be verified through that route. A market may appear differently for another customer or at a later date, so the check should not be treated as proof that it is open or closed everywhere.

If you find a listing, read the market and bet-slip details before deciding whether to proceed. In particular, check that it concerns the award year you intend to follow, rather than a completed season or a different AFL award.

• Award year: make sure the market relates to the correct season.
• Player: check the selection’s name and the outcome the bet requires.
• Odds: note the displayed decimal price and recognise that it can change.
• Terms: read the market and bet-slip conditions, including the settlement basis.

How AFL Rising Star odds work

AFL Rising Star odds are typically expressed as decimal prices. For a single bet, multiplying the stake by the decimal odds gives the potential total return if the selection wins. That return includes the original stake; profit is the total return minus the stake.

For example, a hypothetical $10 single at decimal odds of $5.00 would return $50 in total if successful. That consists of the $10 stake and $40 profit. If the selection loses, the $10 stake is lost. This example is not a Sportsbet quote.

A price describes a potential return, not a guaranteed result. When comparing prices, check the same player and award year at a similar time, and consider whether the settlement terms are comparable. A player’s inclusion on the AFL nominee list does not necessarily mean a bookmaker will offer that player as a selection.

Sportsbet Rising Star settlement and all-in risk

Sportsbet’s published AFL rule 21(a) describes the Rising Star market as all-in and says bets are paid on the official winner presented on AFL Awards night. Check the current rule and the terms displayed with any market before placing a bet.

All-in betting carries a risk that a stake will not be refunded if a selection cannot ultimately win. For example, a player might not receive a nomination or might become ineligible. Do not assume that either situation automatically produces a refund: the reviewed Rising Star clause does not explain every possible scenario.

The clause also does not specify an exact payment-processing time or explain the calculation for every possible joint-winner, delay or cancellation scenario. The AFL’s award rules and Sportsbet’s betting terms answer different questions: an AFL rule allowing joint winners does not, by itself, establish how a tied bet is settled.

If the award schedule changes or a particular outcome matters to your bet, check the applicable market terms or ask Sportsbet for clarification. An announcement date alone does not establish when a bet will be processed.

How the AFL Rising Star award works

The men’s AFL Rising Star recognises an outstanding young player, with the winner receiving the Ron Evans Medal. It is separate from the AFLW Rising Star. Readers may still encounter the historical name NAB AFL Rising Star in search results or older bookmaker content; the AFL called the 2026 award the Telstra AFL Rising Star.

Carlton’s Jagga Smith was the 2026 Rising Star winner, receiving 54 votes. The AFL announced the result on 25 August 2026. That completed result is useful context, not a prediction of the 2027 field or winner.

The published February 2026 regulations set out a path from weekly nominations to the final vote. The applicable 2027 regulations should be checked before assuming that the same process will apply.

• Weekly performances: a three-person panel selects a nominee after each home-and-away round, considering that round and earlier performances in the season.
• Nomination: a player can receive only one weekly nomination in the same season.
• Final votes: after the home-and-away season, All Australian selectors each choose five eligible weekly nominees, awarding votes on a 5–4–3–2–1 basis.
• Winner: the player with the highest total wins; the 2026 regulations allow joint winners if players tie.

AFL Rising Star eligibility: age and previous games

AFL Rising Star eligibility matters because a young player is not automatically eligible simply by being selected in an AFL team. The following thresholds come from clause 22.6 of the February 2026 AFL regulations. They have not been independently verified here as the rules for 2027.

For the 2026 award, the regulations required a player to be under 21 on 31 December of the year before the award year. They also required the player to have played no more than 10 AFL home-and-away and finals matches before the season began.

Exactly 10 previous qualifying matches met the stated experience limit; more than 10 did not. Meeting that limit alone was not enough, however. A player also needed to satisfy the other applicable requirements.

There is an age-cut-off discrepancy worth noting. Some AFL editorial coverage describes the test as being under 21 on 1 January of the award year, rather than on the preceding 31 December. Those descriptions differ for someone turning 21 on 1 January. The regulations provide the stronger source for the 2026 wording, but that particular boundary case should be clarified with the AFL rather than assumed.

For a later season, check the current regulations and the player’s relevant match count. Do not rely on a cached odds page to establish either age or games eligibility.

Discipline, nominations and final voting

Under the 2026 regulations, receiving a weekly nomination and being eligible for final votes were not necessarily the same thing. A player found guilty of a reportable offence could still receive a weekly nomination but could be ineligible for final votes and the award.

The disciplinary provisions included an exception for a financial sanction only. They also specified a state-league exception where the sanction was not suspension or disqualification. It would therefore be misleading to say that every report, or every fine, automatically ruled a player out.

For example, a nomination announcement alone would not settle a complicated disciplinary eligibility question. Consult the applicable season’s regulation for the details. Similarly, an AFL eligibility decision does not establish whether a bookmaker will refund a bet; that is a separate question under the betting terms.

Checking Rising Star nominees and assessing the field

The AFL Rising Star hub is the starting point for official nominees and results. Use it alongside the relevant season’s regulations rather than treating a bookmaker’s list as the official list of eligible players.

Under the 2026 rules, a weekly nomination was necessary to be considered in the final vote, but it did not guarantee votes or the award. Nor did it guarantee that Sportsbet would list a player. A betting market and the official nomination process can cover different groups of players at different points in the season.

When following a potential field, the points below provide context rather than reliable predictions. Check current AFL or club information for any player-specific update.

• Eligibility and discipline: check the applicable season’s age, experience and disciplinary rules.
• Playing opportunity: senior selection and a player’s role affect the opportunities available to build a body of work.
• Season performance: the 2026 nomination panel considered both the latest round and earlier performances.
• Nomination status: check whether the player has received an official weekly nomination and what the current final-voting rules require.

Australian access and safer gambling

Sportsbet says customers must be at least 18 years old. It also says people outside Australia cannot open or operate an account to bet or transact, and that some sports or markets may be restricted in particular Australian jurisdictions. The research did not identify a specific state restriction for this Rising Star market, so availability should not be assumed.

Gambling carries a risk of losing money. If you choose to bet, consider a limit you can afford to lose; choosing not to bet is also an option. Support and self-exclusion services are available in Australia.

• Gambling Help Online offers support, including online counselling and the phone number 1800 858 858.
• BetStop is the national self-exclusion register for licensed Australian online and phone wagering providers.

FAQ

Does Sportsbet offer AFL Rising Star odds?

Sportsbet’s event page says it expects 2027 markets and odds during the season. At the check on 5 November 2026, the accessible odds route did not reveal a selection list or prices. That does not prove the market was closed to every customer; check the event page for current information.

Is it still called the NAB AFL Rising Star?

NAB AFL Rising Star is a historical name that readers may still see in searches or bookmaker material. The AFL’s verified name for the 2026 award was the Telstra AFL Rising Star. Check the AFL’s current material for the name used in a later season.

How are Rising Star nominees selected?

Under the 2026 regulations, a three-person panel selected a nominee after each home-and-away round. It considered the latest round and earlier performances that season. A player could be nominated only once in the same season. Check the applicable regulations for any later award.

Can a player win without a weekly nomination?

Not under the published 2026 regulations. Final selectors voted for eligible players from the weekly nominees, so an otherwise eligible player needed a nomination to be considered. That requirement should be checked against the applicable regulations for 2027.

Is a player with exactly 10 previous AFL games eligible?

Exactly 10 previous AFL home-and-away and finals matches met the experience limit in the 2026 regulations, which allowed no more than 10 before the season began. Age and other conditions still applied. Check both the current rules and the player’s qualifying match count.

When is a Sportsbet Rising Star bet settled?

Sportsbet’s published Rising Star clause says bets are paid on the official winner presented on AFL Awards night, but it does not give an exact processing time. Check the current terms or contact Sportsbet about a changed schedule, delay or joint-winner scenario.

Does a weekly nomination guarantee a player will be listed by Sportsbet?

No. An AFL nomination is part of the official award process; a bookmaker’s selection list is a separate matter. A nominated player is not necessarily offered in a market, and a nomination does not guarantee final votes or the award.