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The Breakout Stars of 2014

  • When fellow Aussie Mark Webber left Formula One at the end of last season, Ricciardo joined Red Bull Racing as world champion Sebastian Vettel’s understudy. But 2014 has seen Ricciardo completely outshine Vettel, claiming Grand Prix victories in Canada, Hungary and Belgium.
    1/10

    Daniel Ricciardo – Formula One

    When fellow Aussie Mark Webber left Formula One at the end of last season, Ricciardo joined Red Bull Racing as world champion Sebastian Vettel’s understudy. But 2014 has seen Ricciardo completely outshine Vettel, claiming Grand Prix victories in Canada, Hungary and Belgium.
  • The 19-year-old went from tennis unknown to the quarter finals of Wimbledon in 2014. His giant-killing run at the All England Club saw him take down World No.1 Rafael Nadal boost his world ranking to 55.
    2/10

    Nick Kyrgios – Tennis

    The 19-year-old went from tennis unknown to the quarter finals of Wimbledon in 2014. His giant-killing run at the All England Club saw him take down World No.1 Rafael Nadal boost his world ranking to 55.
  • 19-year-old Taylor made his debut in round one for the Lions and played every game of the 2014 season, kicking 12 goals along the way. In round nine he was nominated for the NAB Rising Star and went on to win the award for his stellar rookie year.
    3/10

    Lewis Taylor – AFL

    19-year-old Taylor made his debut in round one for the Lions and played every game of the 2014 season, kicking 12 goals along the way. In round nine he was nominated for the NAB Rising Star and went on to win the award for his stellar rookie year.
  • 18-year-old Sione Mata’utia burst onto the NRL scene in round 20 when he was selected to make his debut for the Newcastle Knights against the Roosters. Then, with just six first grade games under his belt, he was called into Australia’s Four Nations squad and became the youngest ever player to don a Kangaroos jersey.
    4/10

    Sione Mata’utia – NRL

    18-year-old Sione Mata’utia burst onto the NRL scene in round 20 when he was selected to make his debut for the Newcastle Knights against the Roosters. Then, with just six first grade games under his belt, he was called into Australia’s Four Nations squad and became the youngest ever player to don a Kangaroos jersey.
  • <p>Rodriguez was somewhat of an unknown to the majority of the football world until the 2014 World Cup where he led Colombia to their first-ever quarter final. The 23-year-old was named the best player in the group stages by FIFA, and went on to sign a six-year mega-deal with Real Madrid in the aftermath.</p>
    5/10

    James Rodriguez – Football

    Rodriguez was somewhat of an unknown to the majority of the football world until the 2014 World Cup where he led Colombia to their first-ever quarter final. The 23-year-old was named the best player in the group stages by FIFA, and went on to sign a six-year mega-deal with Real Madrid in the aftermath.

  • The 19-year-old Melbournian took the basketball world by storm in 2014 when he was selected by the Utah Jazz with the fifth overall pick in the NBA Draft. When the 14/15 NBA season kicked off, Exum was thrust straight onto the game’s biggest stage and certainly hasn’t looked out of place.
    6/10

    Dante Exum – Basketball

    The 19-year-old Melbournian took the basketball world by storm in 2014 when he was selected by the Utah Jazz with the fifth overall pick in the NBA Draft. When the 14/15 NBA season kicked off, Exum was thrust straight onto the game’s biggest stage and certainly hasn’t looked out of place.
  • Bontempelli was awarded the Best First Year Player Award by the AFL Players Association and went on to finish just one point behind Taylor for the NAB Rising Star. The 18-year-old was a bright light in an otherwise poor year for Western Bulldogs and was unlucky not to win goal of the year.
    7/10

    Marcus Bontempelli – AFL

    Bontempelli was awarded the Best First Year Player Award by the AFL Players Association and went on to finish just one point behind Taylor for the NAB Rising Star. The 18-year-old was a bright light in an otherwise poor year for Western Bulldogs and was unlucky not to win goal of the year.
  • 19-year-old Johnston was called up to make his first grade debut for the Rabbitohs in round eight with no less than club legend Nathan Merritt being dropped in his place. And the speedy winger certainly didn’t let coach Michael Maguire regret the decision, topping the try-scorers’ list with 21 before earning selection in Australia’s Four Nations squad.
    8/10

    Alex Johnston – NRL

    19-year-old Johnston was called up to make his first grade debut for the Rabbitohs in round eight with no less than club legend Nathan Merritt being dropped in his place. And the speedy winger certainly didn’t let coach Michael Maguire regret the decision, topping the try-scorers’ list with 21 before earning selection in Australia’s Four Nations squad.
  • In his first full year in V8 Supercars, Mostert claimed the sport’s biggest prize – victory at Mount Panorama. The 22-year-old came from dead-last on the grid to overtake Jamie Whincup on the final lap and claim his maiden Bathurst victory.
    9/10

    Chaz Mostert – V8 Supercars

    In his first full year in V8 Supercars, Mostert claimed the sport’s biggest prize – victory at Mount Panorama. The 22-year-old came from dead-last on the grid to overtake Jamie Whincup on the final lap and claim his maiden Bathurst victory.
  • <p>Sterling is on the cusp of cashing in at Liverpool after cementing his place in the top team in 2014. He earned a place in England’s World Cup squad in the middle of the year, and has been tearing up the English Premier League.</p>
    10/10

    Raheem Sterling – Football

    Sterling is on the cusp of cashing in at Liverpool after cementing his place in the top team in 2014. He earned a place in England’s World Cup squad in the middle of the year, and has been tearing up the English Premier League.

When fellow Aussie Mark Webber left Formula One at the end of last season, Ricciardo joined Red Bull Racing as world champion Sebastian Vettel’s understudy. But 2014 has seen Ricciardo completely outshine Vettel, claiming Grand Prix victories in Canada, Hungary and Belgium.
The 19-year-old went from tennis unknown to the quarter finals of Wimbledon in 2014. His giant-killing run at the All England Club saw him take down World No.1 Rafael Nadal boost his world ranking to 55.
19-year-old Taylor made his debut in round one for the Lions and played every game of the 2014 season, kicking 12 goals along the way. In round nine he was nominated for the NAB Rising Star and went on to win the award for his stellar rookie year.
18-year-old Sione Mata’utia burst onto the NRL scene in round 20 when he was selected to make his debut for the Newcastle Knights against the Roosters. Then, with just six first grade games under his belt, he was called into Australia’s Four Nations squad and became the youngest ever player to don a Kangaroos jersey.
<p>Rodriguez was somewhat of an unknown to the majority of the football world until the 2014 World Cup where he led Colombia to their first-ever quarter final. The 23-year-old was named the best player in the group stages by FIFA, and went on to sign a six-year mega-deal with Real Madrid in the aftermath.</p>
The 19-year-old Melbournian took the basketball world by storm in 2014 when he was selected by the Utah Jazz with the fifth overall pick in the NBA Draft. When the 14/15 NBA season kicked off, Exum was thrust straight onto the game’s biggest stage and certainly hasn’t looked out of place.
Bontempelli was awarded the Best First Year Player Award by the AFL Players Association and went on to finish just one point behind Taylor for the NAB Rising Star. The 18-year-old was a bright light in an otherwise poor year for Western Bulldogs and was unlucky not to win goal of the year.
19-year-old Johnston was called up to make his first grade debut for the Rabbitohs in round eight with no less than club legend Nathan Merritt being dropped in his place. And the speedy winger certainly didn’t let coach Michael Maguire regret the decision, topping the try-scorers’ list with 21 before earning selection in Australia’s Four Nations squad.
In his first full year in V8 Supercars, Mostert claimed the sport’s biggest prize – victory at Mount Panorama. The 22-year-old came from dead-last on the grid to overtake Jamie Whincup on the final lap and claim his maiden Bathurst victory.
<p>Sterling is on the cusp of cashing in at Liverpool after cementing his place in the top team in 2014. He earned a place in England’s World Cup squad in the middle of the year, and has been tearing up the English Premier League.</p>
Yahoo Sport Australia

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