FREMANTLE officially have the best young AFL player in the country in their ranks after Rhys Palmer was today named the NAB Rising Star for 2008.

In today's ceremony in Melbourne, Palmer took out the Ron Evans medal with 44 votes out of a possible 45, ahead of Hawthorn's Cyril Rioli and Richmond's Trent Cotchin.

Other nominees included Palmer's Dockers teammate Garrick Ibbotson, and West Coast youngsters Brad Ebert and Ben McKinley. Palmer was given top votes by a judging panel which included Kevin Bartlett, Glen Jakovich, Gerard Healy and Robert Walls.

He joins the likes of Nathan Buckley, Adam Goodes, Ben Cousins, Nick Riewoldt, Sam Mitchell and Fremantle's other winner - Paul Hasleby in 2000, Palmer said a year that started with uncertainly about whether he had been drafted had ended perfectly.

"I didn't mind where I went (on draft day), I just wanted to get picked up like any other young boy. Me and my brother connected the computer to the TV, saw my mate Chris Masten go to the Eagles and then it just froze," Palmer said.

"It did not come back on until pick ten, and I did not know if I had been picked up … then I got the phone call that I was going to Fremantle and it turned out to be a great day."

Palmer cited Robert Harvey as his hero and Port Adelaide's Kane Cornes as his toughest opponent. He said his first year had been a tough introduction to the game's top level.

"I always hoped I could make it, I have loved footy ever since I was a boy and playing throughout the ranks, and I used to love Robert Harvey and the way he carried the ball," Palmer said

"I have learned it is tough gig, when you win everyone is up and about at the club, when you lose everyone's head is down."

And having endured troubles with the dreaded osteitis pubis, Palmer said that pain had been the making of him.

"It was a real good stepping stone in my life and how to look after my body, it gave me inspiration to really succeed and to prove to everyone that I can play the game," Palmer said.

In an outstanding first season amongst a dismal Fremantle season, Palmer rose from not being picked in the first round by Mark Harvey to become the Dockers key midfielder, averaging more than 23 disposals a game.

Palmer is a product of the of Bullcreek-Leeming Junior Football Club - which has already produced two Brownlow medallists in Simon Black and Cousins.

His talent was first shown on a national stage as a key member of Western Australia's victorious under-18s Championships side in 2007, averaging 32 possessions and three goals per game.

He finished second by one vote behind Cale Morton in the Larke Medal and was named in the All-Australian side. Drafted at the pick seven overall in the AFL draft, Palmer was named as an emergency for the opening round of the 2008 season.

He had to wait until the following week to make his debut against Hawthorn at Subiaco Oval - ironically against Rioli - finishing with 22 possessions and a goal.

His second match earned his Rising Star nomination for an outstanding performance against arch rival West Coast. Gathering 24 possessions, second only to David Mundy, the effort was even more meritorious after Palmer was knocked almost unconscious in the opening five minutes after copping an accidental knee to the head.

The 19-year-old needed staples to repair the nasty gash, finished the match with a bandage soaked in blood - and a first win of his career. "It was only ten staples, but 22 sounds better and a nice cut on the head, but it was a great day," Palmer said

"It was a bit of blur after the game, and it was pretty painful." But while his vision may have been awry, his game was not, Palmer gathered 13 handball receives - matched only by quality Eagles Daniel Kerr and Matthew Priddis.