Marcus Windhager’s exceptional debut season has been formally recognised with a nomination for the NAB Rising Star.

Although the 19-year-old could have been nominated in any number of games this season, Windhager’s most recent performance coincided with his most high-profile scalp after keeping reigning Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale to a season-low 16 disposals.

The young Saint had 21 touches and five clearances in tandem with his shutdown role, adding to his newfound ability to quell some of the game’s most influential players.

The 17-gamer has been tasked with tagging the prolific Neale, All-Australians Tim Kelly, Cam Guthrie, Touk Miller and Sam Docherty, plus emerging on-baller Jai Newcombe, winning or breaking even in all encounters.

Windhager notably kept Kelly to four touches late last month while collecting 23 disposals of his own in performance second only to captain Jack Steele (40 dispsoals).

While the Next Generation Academy graduate has drawn considerable praise for his efforts, his stellar season came painfully close to never eventuating.

A back injury sustained just before being drafted threatened to put a line through his debut campaign, before a patient pre-season with the support of St Kilda’s high-performance staff allowing him to reach the heights he has in 2022.

Windhager made his debut in Round 4 against Hawthorn, joining a historic line-up which featured seven St Kilda players for the first time in club history. Windhager is of the Ben Lomond Tribe, which is Plangermaireener Nation in Tasmania, through his mother’s side.

Since making his debut, the No. 17 has missed just one game through AFL Health & Safety Protocols.