Lyon names Jagga Smith’s biggest Rising Star challenger

SEN’s Garry Lyon has named the one player he expects to challenge Jagga Smith for this year’s Rising Star.

While Smith is considered an early runaway favourite and a lock for the award already, Lyon thinks that Gold Coast’s Zeke Uwland will be right in the running come season’s end.

As things stand, Smith is an incredibly short $1.67 to take out the award with Sportsbet, while Uwland is way back at $21.

Lyon thinks those odds should be far closer based on what he’s seen so far.

“I saw a guy play on the weekend, who by the end of the season is going to have established himself as one of the best young players to have come onto the scene in a long, long time,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.

“I suspect that he would be pushing Jagga Smith by the end of the year.

“He's not the second favourite, the third favourite, the fourth favourite, or even the fifth favourite for the Rising Star. His name is Zeke Uwland, and he plays for the Gold Coast Suns.

“He is so accomplished, so smooth, so talented, he's picked up the speed of this game so quickly, and I think he is going to be a mighty competitor for Jagga Smith in the Rising Star race.”

Uwland had perhaps his best game yet in last Saturday’s win against Richmond, picking up 15 disposals, three marks, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s.

The Suns have the bye in Round 3 before facing Melbourne at the MCG in Round 4.  

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