Greater Western Sydney youngster Cameron McCarthy has been named the Rising Star nomination for Round 8 on the back of his four-goal haul against Adelaide.

The 20-year-old was awarded this week’s gong after four goals from 12 disposals and six marks during Saturday’s impressive 24-point win over the Crows at Spotless Stadium.

“Jezza’s been a huge mentor for me, not only on the field but off the field as well. He’s not only a ripper footballer, he’s a ripper bloke as well.” – Cameron Mccarthy

Hailed ‘The Great McCarthy’ by SEN radio commentator and AFL legend Kevin Bartlett, the key position forward has played every game in 2015, averaging nearly 11 disposals, five marks, and 2.5 goals per game.

McCarthy has kicked 21 goals this season, including a bag of five goals in Round 5. He sits seventh on the Coleman Medal table with the likes of previous winners Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead trailing him.

McCarthy, who hails from South Fremantle, has had a big say in the Giants’ rise to fourth spot and a 6-2 record.

He was recruited with pick 13 in the 2013 National Draft as part of the complicated deal that saw Jared Polec go to Port Adelaide.

Dubbed ‘Sunshine’ by teammate Shane Mumford, due to his resemblance to a quarterback in the film Remember the Titans, McCarthy worked as a plumber after finishing school in 2012.

He booted 20 goals from eight matches while playing Colts for South Fremantle during his draft year.

He made his AFL debut last season, playing one match in the last round of the home and away season and nailing a shot on goal from 50 metres out on the boundary with his first kick after starting as the sub.

After being behind fellow key forwards Jeremy Cameron, Jonathan Patton, and Tom Boyd for a senior berth in 2014, McCarthy is now a regular in the Giants side.

McCarthy said both Cameron and Patton have been crucial in his rapid development as a player.

“Jezza’s been a huge mentor for me, not only on the field but off the field as well. On Monday’s he’ll show me a few things out on the training track with leading patterns so he’s been absolutely enormous for me and I love playing footy with him. He’s not only a ripper footballer, he’s a ripper bloke as well,” McCarthy said.

“It’s been great to learn stuff from him and Jonny Patton as well, even though he’s been sidelined with his knee injury, which is unfortunate. But he’s been unreal for me with that insider sort of stuff.”

McCarthy is the 14th Giant to be nominated since they entered the competition in 2012.