WHEN asked which player he models his game on, young Giant Adam Tomlinson doesn't hesitate to nominate St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt, and it's not hard to see why.

 

They both stand at 193cm, play centre half-forward and love to run their opponents off their feet.

 

"Nick Riewoldt's been the player I've looked up to over the past few years, so I've been trying to replicate what he does on the footy field," Tomlinson told AFL.com.au.

 

"He's a great player who takes a lot of good grabs and he's just a running machine."

 

And if Tomlinson's performance against Essendon is anything to go by, he's a chance to emulate some of the feats that Riewoldt has achieved over his magnificent career.

 

The 19-year-old's breakout game against the Bombers yielded 23 possessions, nine marks, four tackles, a goal and a game high 110 Dream Team points.

 

He is the round 17 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee.

 

"I felt pretty confident going into the game, I was able to run around the way I wanted to and it was the best game I've played at AFL level," he said.

 

"I'm really proud to be nominated and I was pretty happy when I was told, so it’s been a great start to the week."

 

While giving more experienced opponents Cale Hooker and Michael Hurley the run around was satisfying, it's his continual improvement that pleases himself and coach Kevin Sheedy most.

 

"Last year Adam was in and out of the side but this year with another pre-season under his belt he has strung a number of games together and has taken 83 marks for the season, which puts him at No.1 for the club and three ahead of Jeremy Cameron," Sheedy said.

 

"We are pleased with his continued development."

 

Recruited with pick nine in the 2011 NAB AFL Draft from the Canterbury Football Club in suburban Melbourne, Tomlinson credits having a childhood friend at the Giants for his smooth transition into the Harbour City.

 

"Dom Tyson and I have been playing footy with and against each other since we were 11-year-olds, and then we went to Trinity Grammar together, so we've been good mates for a long time," Tomlinson said.

 

"He haven't played too many games together at the Giants, but when we do play together it’s good because we know the way each other plays.

 

"It's nowhere near as cold up here and we live close to the beach, so it's been pretty good fun so far."