Following Nick Blakey's final quarter cameo in Sydney's 19-point win over Hawthorn last week, SEN footy analyst David King said he believed the son of a gun would prove to be the best player from last year's NAB AFL Draft.
"He won't win the Rising Star. I think he'll be the best player of this draft," King said on SEN's Crunch Time.
"In five years' time we'll say it was a really good draft, but I think the way he plays, he'll always be able to kick goals whereas midfielders, sometimes their possessions aren't worth as much."
That's some rap considering players including Sam Walsh, Connor Rozee, Bailey Smith, Tarryn Thomas were all members of the 2018 draft class.
Blakey, who doesn't have "any regrets" over choosing to play for Sydney ahead of North Melbourne and Brisbane, was named the Round 14 NAB AFL Rising Star Nominee following two goals, 11 possessions (seven contested), seven marks (three contested) and three score involvements against the Hawks under the Friday night lights.
He told SEN.com.au that it's always nice to receive personal recognition, but winning games is his primary focus.
"It's obviously nice for 'Kingy' to say that, but there's lots of good players in this draft class. Walshy, Rozee and Tarryn, they've all been dominating this year and hopefully we can all have a long and successful career," Blakey said.
"More importantly, we got the win and the last six or seven weeks we've played really good football. Hopefully we can continue to keep doing that."
After star Swan Lance Franklin went down with a hamstring injury in the third quarter of Friday's crunch clash, Blakey, who by his own admission "had been pretty quiet" until then, was determined to pick up the slack.
The 19-year-old had five disposals in the final term and booted two crucial goals, with one of them coming from a brilliant pack mark.
"I put it on myself to have a big last quarter and it was nice to stand up and kick a few goals," Blakey explained.
"When 'Bud' went out a few boys stood up and really went to another level.
"It was nice to get on the end of a couple in that last quarter."
The Lizard!
— AFL (@AFL) June 24, 2019
Congratulations to Nick Blakey on being Round 14's @NAB Rising Star nominee! pic.twitter.com/qYSXXUMC9V
The son of 359-game Fitzroy and North Melbourne player John Blakey was a member of the Sydney Academy and was taken by the Swans at pick 10 in last year's draft. He made his debut in round one and has missed just one game (round five).
Blakey was in the unique position of being able to nominate Sydney, North Melbourne or Brisbane under the father-son rule, and said: "I definitely don't have any regrets, I'm loving playing in Sydney, it's something I dreamed of ever since I was a little kid."