St Kilda midfielder Luke Dunstan has joined a select group of players who have won a Rising Star nomination for their AFL debut match.
Dunstan starred with 21 disposals, nine clearances and seven tackles on Saturday night as the Saints opened their season with a 17-point win over Melbourne.
Two-time Brownlow Medallist Chris Judd, his Carlton teammate and captain Marc Murphy, three-time Brisbane premiership player Luke Power and Essendon star Dyson Heppell are others who were nominated for their first-game performances.
"Luke Dunstan is going to be a really good player for a long time at this football club," Saints coach Alan Richardson said.
"To play such an important role in our midfield in his first AFL game is testament to his ability."
The Saints recruited Dunstan with their second pick at 18th overall in last November's national draft.
