Carlton’s Bella Ayre and Tilly Lucas-Rodd are the Round 5 NAB AFL Women’s Rising Star nominees - the first pair from the same club to be nominated in the same week. 

Ayre, Carlton's youngest player at 18 years and three months, played a key role in the Blues' six-point win against the Western Bulldogs at Ikon Park on Saturday.

The exciting youngster was an imposing figure in Carlton’s forward line, kicking two goals and gaining eight possessions.

The year-12 student represented Victoria Country in the 2016 National Under 18 Competition and was selected in the All-Australian team. Playing 10 senior matches for Bendigo Thunder, Ayre managed to kick 38 goals and finish runner-up in the club’s best and fairest.

She was selected with pick number 51 from Bendigo Thunder in the Victorian Women’s Football League. 

Midfielder Lucas-Rodd played a key role in the Blues' victory over the Bulldogs, collecting a game-high 17 possessions.

The 20-year-old enjoyed a decorated junior career where she represented Victoria in under-18 programs and was a member of the AFL Victoria Women’s Academy in 2016.

She was drafted to Carlton with pick number 99 from the St Kilda Sharks in the VFL Women’s competition and has featured in all five of the Blues' games this season.

Ayre and Lucas-Rodd will be awarded $500 each in prize money from NAB to acknowledge their achievements, with the overall NAB AFL Women's Rising Star to be awarded $20,000.