It took him 21 rounds, but Fremantle midfielder Nick Suban has finally earned a nomination for the AFL Rising Star award.

Suban, snared with pick No.24 in last year's national draft, has been a standout for the Dockers all season.

The 19-year-old has played every game in 2009 but saved his best performance of the season for last week's big win over Essendon, when he gathered 25 possessions and booted two goals.

He is currently ranked seventh overall at the club for total kicks and fifth overall for tackles.

"He is dedicated, understands where he going, knows his role for the team and knows where he has got to improve," Fremantle coach Mark Harvey said.

"With the way he operates on the field, his ability to encourage and co-ordinate things that a team needs to generate throughout the course of a game, you would think that Nick has played at this level for a long period of time.

"He's an extroverted player on the field and less so off it but that balance will come as his career continues to grow."

Suban has played a variety of defensive and midfield roles this season, with his raking left-foot kicks a major weapon for the club.

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