Adelaide defender Daniel Talia has been named the 2012 NAB Rising Star after playing every match for the Crows in their much-improved season.
Talia won the award with 43 votes on Wednesday, eight ahead of GWS forward Jeremy Cameron with Mitch Wallis of the Bulldogs (19 votes) in third.
The 20-year-old was a crucial player in Adelaide's rise from 14th in 2011 to second on the ladder this year, shutting down several big-name key forwards.
While Talia has averaged just 8.2 disposals per game this year, his ability to silence the most powerful forwards in the AFL has been vital for the Crows.
Despite being in his third season with Adelaide, Talia had only played nine games prior to this year and earned his nomination for the NAB Rising Star when he kept St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt quiet in Round 12.
Adelaide have seen two of their better key defenders, Phil Davis and Nathan Bock, head to GWS and Gold Coast over the past two years but the Crows have barely missed a beat with Talia taking over responsibilities down back.
Talia is the first key defender to be named the NAB Rising Star since Melbourne's Jared Rivers in 2004.
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