The Round 14 NAB AFL Sydney Rising Star Nominee is Wollongong youngster Aidan Riley

Riley played an outstanding game for the Lions against North Shore in Rd.13. The seventeen year old was playing his first game since Round 3 and played a major role in dragging the Lions back into the match after a Bombers onslaught in the 1st term. Riley impressed with his speed, balance, agility, kicking, decision-making, and competitiveness. Coach Trevor Burnett was thrilled with Aidan's preparedness to run and create from the backline. "I thought Aidan's attack on the footy was terrific, and he really showed some of the older guys how it's done. Now that his RAMS commitments are over for the year, I'm really looking forward to Aidan being a regular on the training track, and cementing himself in the senior side" Burnett said.

Aidan was signed as a NSW Scholarship player with the Adelaide Crows earlier this season and was a member of the NSW/ACT Under 18’s side that won the Division Two title at this years U18’s National Championships. He played 1 senior game for the Lions late in the 2007 season, and his only top grade appearance for the Lions last year was in Round 1.

 Despite missing a large part of the last two seasons due to injury, Aidan did however don the red and white for the Sydney Swans reserves side which won the AFL Canberra grand final by one point in 2008.