It's no surprises to see Rachel Trenaman on this list.

She has been a star on the rise for some time now and took the next step in her blossoming career when she made her WBBL debut for Sydney Thunder this month.

It proved no ordinary debut, as she took 2-11 against Sydney Sixers to officially announce herself of the national stage.

After such a fantastic learning experience this WBBL season, Trenaman will be well-positioned to take her game to new heights at senior level in 2019.

Another Riverina rising star is Alyce Parker.

The Cookardinia footballer could have quite easily been the number one pick in the AFLW Draft last year, had it been unregulated.

As it turned out, the Giants snapped her up with their opening selection and she is now on an AFLW list.

The 18-year-old has been putting in the hard yards at the Giants and will be looking to make her mark on the competition when it gets underway early next month.

Parker is sure to be given an opportunity early and look for strength at the contest and silky left boot.

Speaking of opportunities, we can say Micky Gibbons is one to watch with some confidence at last.

Finally, he was given a glimmer of hope when Carlton invited him to train with them in December.

Gibbons can train with the Blues up until February 28, before they have to make a call on he and Matthew Cottrell and finalise their list by the March 15 deadline.

Please Carlton, do yourselves a favour and follow through. Gibbons is a ready-made AFL player and will make an immediate impact given the chance.

While on Coolamon, another Hoppers product faces a big 2019.

Liam Delahunty is the Riverina’s best under 18 footballer and our greatest AFL Draft hope for later in the year.

Delahunty is already on the Giants’ radar, being awarded the club’s inaugural Academy Player Scholarship.

Unfortunately we won’t see him much around here again this season, but Delahunty has bigger fish to fry.

Southern Inland Rugby Union has known all about the talent of Biola Dawa for a while but now it is time for the rest of the country to see what she’s got.

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) speedster has been selected in the Brumbies Super W squad for the first time. While she’s made for sevens, look for her to prove a real attacking weapon on a wing for the ACT team.

While it will be a serious step up, exposure at the higher level will only help Dawa take another significant step towards one day representing Australia.