FIRST-YEAR Western Bulldogs dasher Ed Richards is the round 10 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee.

Richards produced the best performance of his nine-game AFL career on Friday night against Collingwood with 23 disposals (10 contested), eight intercept possessions and five inside 50s.

The 18-year-old defender is the grandson of Magpies premiership player Ron Richards, brother of the legendary Lou Richards, who captained that 1953 Collingwood Grand Final side.

A knee injury in the opening TAC Cup round last year cost him the chance to play for Vic Metro, but he produced a strong finish to the season with Oakleigh Chargers and Carey Grammar.

The Bulldogs ultimately swooped on Richards with the 16th pick, cementing him as a draft bolter.

He had to wait until round two to make his AFL debut, but has played every match since, averaging 15 possessions and 3.2 tackles per game.