Western Bulldogs midfielder Caleb Daniel has fallen just short of the 2016 NAB Rising Star award, finishing eight votes behind Sydney defender Callum Mills.

Mills finished with 49 votes, receiving maximum scores from all but one member of the voting panel, Geelong premiership captain Cameron Ling, who gave his top vote to Daniel.

It was the second time in three years that a Bulldogs midfielder finished in second place for the award after Marcus Bontempelli lost out to Brisbane Lions midfielder Lewis Taylor by one vote in 2014.

Daniel finished second with 41 votes after a season that saw him line up in all but two matches.

Carlton defender Jacob Weitering was third on 26 votes.

Essendon's Darcy Parish finished fourth (19 votes) and Collingwood forward Darcy Moore was fifth with nine votes.

Four other players received votes: Demon Christian Petracca (2), St Kilda's Jade Gresham (2), Melbourne's Clayton Oliver (1) and Fremantle's Lachie Weller (1).

2016 NAB AFL Rising Star