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Fremantle forward Sam Sturt's three-goal debut has been rewarded with what could be the season's only AFL Rising Star nomination.

Fremantle forward Sam Sturt has put himself in the driving seat for the AFL's annual Rising Star award - after just one game of the season.

Sturt was nominated for his three-goal effort in Fremantle's six-point loss to Essendon last week.

The 19-year-old booted two of his goals in the final quarter to give Fremantle a chance of victory.

He also registered a 50m goal from near the boundary line during the first half.

The AFL called a halt to the season after round one, and will not re-start the campaign until May 31 at the earliest due to the coronavirus pandemic.

If the AFL is unable to resume competition this year, it would give the league a unique dilemma of whether to award Sturt the Rising Star award in a season that consisted of just one game.

Sturt suffered multiple concussions, keeping him on the sidelines for much of 2019, but his debut performance against Essendon showed he is a star of the future.