North Melbourne’s Jackson Archer has been named the Telstra AFL Rising Star nominee for Round 21 following a standout performance against Richmond.
The young defender was instrumental in the Roos’ 13-point win at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon, recording a career-high 20 disposals, eight marks, eight intercepts and five tackles.
North Melbourne senior coach Alastair Clarkson praised Archer’s development post-game.
"We shouldn’t be surprised given his surname, but we’re just rapt with his progress,” Clarkson said.
"We think we’ve really found a player there."
Archer's accolade comes days after he signed a two-year contract extension, securing his future at Arden Street until at least the end of 2026.
The 21-year-old played his junior football with Park Orchards before being taken from the Northern Knights as a father-son selection at pick No.59 in the 2021 AFL Draft.
After injuries restricted him to only eight AFL games across his first two seasons at Arden Street, he has made himself a regular in the Roos' backline in 2024, adding 12 more games to his tally.
He is the third Roo to receive an AFL Rising Star nomination this season, joining George Wardlaw (Round 2) and Colby McKercher (Round 9).
The trio could make it back-to-back Rising Stars for the Roos after Harry Sheezel took out the honour last year.
Archer's father Glenn was nominated for the same award in 1993, making them only the second father-son pairing to earn nominations, after Luke and Sam Darcy.
