Tough Carlton tagger Aaron Joseph, who learned his craft on the famous gravel oval in Queenstown in Tasmania, is the AFL Rising Star nominee for Round 12.
The 19-year old earned his nomination for holding St Kilda forward Stephen Milne to just seven touches while gathering 19 disposals and five tackles of his own in last Friday week's clash at Etihad Stadium.
A nominated rookie, Joseph made the football world stand up and take notice for his run-with role on Gary Ablett in this year's NAB Cup during which he impudently 'rag-dolled' the Cats star.
A fixture in the Blues line-up for all 12 matches so far this season he has since been given the job on some of the game's biggest names including Andrew McLeod, Daniel Kerr and Ben Cousins.
Joseph is averaging 11 disposals and three tackles per game for the season and is ranked third at the club for tackles with 46 behind Chris Judd and Marc Murphy.
"Aaron worked hard during the pre-season to grab a spot as a nominated rookie and to then consolidate his position in the team and play every game so far is a great effort," said Carlton coach Brett Ratten.
"However it is the manner in which he has applied himself and worked as a team player, both defensively and in an attacking manner that has really impressed us and is a great example of what can be achieved."
Joseph is originally from the Glenorchy Football Club in Tasmania and played much of his junior football in the mining town of Queenstown where the infamous football oval, known locally as 'The Gravel' is covered not with grass but stones, rocks and shale.
