Promising young defender Alex Witherden has been selected as the Brisbane Lions' Rookie of the Year at the 2018 Club Champion awards night.
Witherden missed just one match for the Lions this year after injuring his hamstring in Round 22 against the Gold Coast Suns and missing the Lions' final match against West Coast.
He averaged 22 disposals, seven marks and 4.6 rebound 50s per game, with his excellent foot skills and vision a trademark of his game.
His tremendous season was rewarded at the AFL Rising Star awards ceremony yesterday, finishing third overall behind Collingwood's Jaidyn Stephenson and Adelaide's Tom Doedee.
It was in Round 9 this year when he claimed a second Rising Star nomination, following his first in Round 17 last year. He is one of just 11 players to ever be nominated twice in the history of the award.
The Geelong Falcons junior was selected by the Lions at Pick No. 23 in the 2016 AFL Draft and played nine games in his debut season.
Earlier this year he extended his contract with the Lions for a further two years, until the end of 2020.
