There's no doubt midfielder Bontempelli has provided some amazing highlights and a genuine goal-of-the-year contender, but many of the AFL.com.au writers preferred the consistency of small forward Taylor.
North Melbourne father-son pick Luke McDonald also featured highly and may surprise when the votes are tallied. Eight of the last 10 winners of the award won their nominations within the opening five rounds of the season, which favours McDonald (round four) compared to Taylor (round nine) and Bontempelli (round 13).
If Bontempelli should salute he would do so with the lowest number of games in the winning season (17 assuming he plays against the Giants this weekend) since Nick Holland won the third ever Rising Star Award in 1995 from just 15 matches.
Ryan Davidson
5 votes. Marcus Bontempelli
4 votes. Lewis Taylor
3 votes. Kade Kolodjashnij
2 votes. Jake Stringer
1 votes. Tom Langdon
Bontempelli is the raging hot favourite and it's not hard to see why after his impressive debut season. The classy 18-year-old, who is one of the youngest players in the competition, is averaging 15 touches and nearly a goal a game. He's also a leading contender to take out goal of the year after his brilliant snap against Melbourne in round 15. A rare talent who makes things happen.
Alex Malcolm
5. Marcus Bontempelli
4. Lewis Taylor
3. Luke Dunstan
2. Josh Kelly
1. Jake Stringer
It is a close-run decision for this year's Rising Star but Bontempelli's impact on games in the second half of the season separates him from the pack. He has gathered 20 plus possessions against Collingwood, Port Adelaide, Geelong and North Melbourne and has kicked multiple goals in four games. He just nudges out Taylor and Dunstan as both have had wonderful seasons.
Callum Twomey
5. Lewis Taylor
4. Luke McDonald
3. Marcus Bontempelli
2. Zach Merrett
1. James Aish
Taylor has played every game for the season, averaged almost 17 touches and had a big impact on the way the Brisbane Lions have played. He's lit up games with pace, changed the team's dynamic and been influential and consistent. McDonald's season has been largely underrated but that says something about it, too. He has done his job in defence with little fuss, has tagged top players out of games, and cemented his spot for a whole season in a finals-bound side. Bontempelli's highlight reel is amazing and he has turned games, but it has largely been in the second half of the year. There are many players who could have vied for votes, but the consistency of Merrett and Aish deserves recognition.
Harry Thring
5. Marcus Bontempelli
4. Lewis Taylor
3. James Aish
2. Harry Cunningham
1. Luke McDonald
Western Bulldogs youngster Marcus Bontempelli has managed more inside-50s than any other in the rising star crop and is ranked third for clearances and contested marks despite playing only 15 games. Brisbane Lion Lewis Taylor has spent more time on the ground than any other in the crop and is second for disposals, while teammate James Aish leads the way for tackles.
Michael Whiting
5. Lewis Taylor
4. Marcus Bontempelli
3. Luke McDonald
2. Kade Kolodjashnij
1. Luke Dunstan
In an extremely tight field, I've given Taylor the slight nod based on his consistency. The Lions livewire has played every game, averaged 17 disposals in the tricky half-forward role, and been a major player in most of the Lions' seven wins. Bontempelli has had more spectacular individual performances, but over the course of the season, week-in, week-out, Taylor has been better for mine.
Jennifer Phelan
5. Marcus Bontempelli
4. Lewis Taylor
3. James Aish
2. Jake Stringer
1. Luke Dunstan
An average of nearly 16 touches a game since his round five debut has tall midfielder Marcus Bontempelli at the top of the list. Lions duo Lewis Taylor – who has played every game - and James Aish have also had notable seasons while Jake Stringer's three bags of four or more goals makes him a standout. Luke Dunstan is also a chance after presenting as a ready-made midfielder before a shoulder injury cut his season short after round 19.
Nathan Schmook
5. James Aish
4. Lewis Taylor
3. Marcus Bontempelli
2. Luke McDonald
1. Luke Dunstan
Aish's ability to hold down a key midfield role all season gives him the edge, with his class regularly on display. Ranked top five at the Lions for tackles, contested ball and overall disposals, his body of work over the season just edges dangerous teammate Lewis Taylor, who finished the year stronger. Marcus Bontempelli and Luke McDonald are frontrunners for the award, but Luke Dunstan has slipped since his season was finished by shoulder surgery after round 19. Like Aish, he was at the forefront of his team's midfield.
Ashley Browne
5. Lewis Taylor
4. Marcus Bontempelli
3. Tom Langdon
2. Luke Dunstan
1. Jonathan Patton
The AFL loves its graduates from the AIS Academy. Factor in playing for an emerging side in a developing market and it points to Taylor, who averaged 16.6 disposals for the Lions and kicked 11 goals. Taylor hasn’t missed a match this year and has shown an inclination for finding the footy and using it well. No disappointment here if Bontompelli gets it – he has the makings of a superstar – but Taylor has performed well all year.
Ben Guthrie
5. Marcus Bontempelli
4. Lewis Taylor
3. Luke McDonald
2. Josh Kelly
1. Tom Langdon
Lewy Taylor may well have had a more productive season than Marcus Bontempelli, but the Bulldog gets the nod because of his ability to influence games on a regular basis. You need only look to Bontempelli's Goal of the Year contender against Melbourne in round 15 to realise he is all kinds of special. That star appeal will get him across the line.
Peter Ryan
5. Luke McDonald
4. Marcus Bontempelli
3. Lewis Taylor
2. Zach Merrett
1. Jack Billings
Line-ball decision but preferred McDonald over Bontempelli purely on consistency and durability. McDonald shapes as an inspirational leader and is courageous to a fault while Bontempelli has the best highlight reel of the candidates. Lewis Taylor, Zach Merrett and Jack Billings are all clever small forwards who should excite the competition through the midfield in the future. Taylor and Merrett look like draft steals while Billings is all class.
James Dampney
5. Marcus Bontempelli
4. Luke McDonald
3. Lewis Taylor
2. Harry Cunningham
1. Josh Kelly
Kelly has impressed through 17 games at the Giants, while Cunningham has played every match for the ladder-leading Swans. The diminutive Taylor has also played every game in a struggling Brisbane Lions outfit and Kangaroo McDonald has shown maturity and poise beyond his 19 years. But for sheer eye-catching skills and his ability to carry the Bulldogs to victory, it's impossible to go past Bontempelli.
Adam McNicol
5. Lewis Taylor
4. Marcus Bontempelli
3. James Aish
2. Harry Cunningham
1. Luke McDonald
There's no doubt that Marcus Bontempelli has been a revelation, but in my opinion Brisbane Lions youngster Lewis Taylor has had a more impressive debut season. Taylor is second for disposals among players eligible for the rising star (his Lions teammate James Aish is first) and he has played every game, which is a brilliant effort of endurance. Harry Cunningham has also played every game, while Aish and Luke McDonald have each missed just one match.
Nick Bowen
5. Lewis Taylor
4. Marcus Bontempelli
3. Luke McDonald
2. Jonathon Patton
1. Troy Menzel
Bontempelli has done enough freakish things to suggest he could end up the cream of this year's Rising Star crop, but Taylor has been 2014's standout performer. The Lions speedster has not missed a game and has averaged 16.6 possessions and kicked 11 goals. Most impressively, his ability to run rings around opponents has been reminiscent of North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey.
Nat Edwards
5. Marcus Bontempelli
4. Lewis Taylor
3. Luke McDonald
2. Jack Billings
1. Tom Langdon
Marcus Bontempelli would be a very worthy winner. The Bulldogs' No.4 pick in last year's draft has lived up to expectations, seducing footy fans with his silky skills and athletic ability across his 15 games this season. Speedster Lewis Taylor at the Lions is another to impress in 2014. He's played every game this season, is a classy finisher and has averaged 17 disposals per game.
Marcus Bontempelli 61
Lewis Taylor 59
Luke McDonald 29
James Aish 15
Luke Dunstan 8
Harry Cunningham 6
Tom Langdon 6
Josh Kelly 5
Kade Kolodjashnij 5
Jake Stringer 5
Zach Merrett 4
Jonathon Patton 3
Jack Billings 3
Troy Menzel 1
