Cripps did not let the attention of Demon tagger Bernie Vince bother him, his 26 possession, best-on-ground game including eight clearances and a big last quarter goal.

"He's got real character, resilience. Regardless of the scenario that presents, he just fights," said interim Carlton coach John Barker afterwards.

"I don't know if I can say much more about him, my wife might start getting concerned."

With Dom Sheed, Angus Brayshaw, Touk Miller, Isaac Heeney, Adam Saad, Jackson Thurlow and Jake Lever all worthy of top five finishes, this year's Rising Star pool looks like one of the better ones - or at least one of the more even.

Its strength might lie in who is yet to be nominated, with the impressive Liam Duggan suffering a season-ending knee injury before his name was called and Port Adelaide's Brendon Ah Chee just 10 days too old.

With two rounds to go, these are the players still in the mix for a nomination.

Caleb Daniel (Western Bulldogs)

The Bulldogs played their seventh debutant against West Coast on Sunday, Roarke Smith. They'll end the season with a few players unlucky not to be nominated, with Joel Hamling, Lukas Webb and Bailey Dale all showing plenty at different times. Daniel has been consistent, playing in a difficult position. The small forward kicked five goals in his eight games, and found the ball 18 times in Sunday's big loss to West Coast. He's just about due.

Caleb Daniel at Whitten Oval. Photo: Simon O'Dwyer

Darcy Lang and Jake Kolodjashnij (Geelong)

The Cats have two nominations already - Cory Gregson and Jackson Thurlow. Between Lang, second year defender Jake Kolodjashnij and draftee Nakia Cockatoo they could easily squeeze in one or even two more. Lang was on his way back from a broken leg when Geelong drafted him at the end of 2013, and he has looked more comfortable by the week this season, the 19-year-old adding some run and inventiveness to his side. He had 16 disposals in Saturday night's draw with St Kilda while Kolodjashnij grabbed six marks in a 17-possession game. He's played on some quality forwards so far, reading them and the play well.

Darcy Lang (centre).  Photo: Getty Images

Rory Atkins and Matt Crouch (Adelaide)

For various reasons, Atkins had to wait a while before making his way into the Adelaide team. He was chosen late in the 2012 draft (the year the Crows had their first two picks removed) and had to overcome a significant setback at the start of this season, missing three months with a knee injury. Atkins debuted in last month's Showdown and in the few weeks since has started to win more and more of the ball, showing off his class and cleverness. Crouch's simple ability to get lots of the ball has translated well to AFL level in his two seasons.

Rory Atkins surely in line for the rising star this week? #star @Adelaide_FC @JoshJenkins24 @rjdouglas26 @dangerfield32— Tom Lynch (@tom_lynch27) August 23, 2015

Jayden Laverde (Essendon)

Laverde is one of a few young Bombers given a chance in the last two months. Like Shaun Edwards, Kyle Langford, Orazio Fantasia and a few others, he has played with some enthusiasm and dare in a team that has really needed some. He had his quietest game in a few weeks in Saturday's narrow loss to the Gold Coast but before that had been building his disposal count, kicking goals and starting to play with the flair he showed in his draft year.

Jayden Laverde (right) is pumped after kicking his first goal. Photo: Getty Images

Darcy Moore (Collingwood)

Moore kicked five goals in just his third game, and his athleticism, competitiveness and overall nous make you think he'll do that many more times before he's done. His good friend Jordan De Goey beat him to last week's nomination but he deserves one too. Saturday's loss to Richmond was not an easy one to stand out in but he took five marks, gathering 15 possessions in his seventh senior appearance.

Darcy Moore  Photo: Getty Images

Ben Lennon (Richmond)

After a seven-game start in 2014, Lennon made his way back into the Tigers' side in the middle of the season and stayed there as the team's form has risen, knowing he needed to pair his talent and class with a tougher defensive edge. His output was a little down on Saturday but in the few weeks prior he'd started to look a more confident, more rounded player.

Hugh Goddard (St Kilda)

Goddard and Paddy McCartin were picked to help replenish the Saints' key position stocks, and both have shown promising signs that they'll be well and truly up to it. McCartin was outside the senior side on Saturday (as was classy small forward Jack Sinclair), with Goddard taking three marks in an 11-disposal game against the Cats.

Hugh Goddard and Paddy McCartin  Photo: Getty Images

James Rose (Sydney)

Rose kicked three goals in the last quarter after being subbed into Saturday's game. He looked as though he hadn't even dared to think playing AFL footy could be this good. Others are ahead of the South Australian in the queue, given their consistency through the season. But another effort like that would make him harder to overlook.

James Rose.  Photo: Janie Barrett