This will be our last article about the 2024 AFL season before moving onto trades, free agency, and draft coverage. Just a quickie to finish up (not the first time I’ve used that line).
The Gary Ayres Medal was awarded today (after Chris Fagan found a moment to give his votes for the Grand Final), and it was Lachie Neale adding to his already-impressive trophy case.
Of course, we always think we can do it a little better, at The Mongrel, and as such, had a different way of scoring the players throughout the finals series. And as you’d expect, we had a different outcome.
The format we used was to rate every player in every game, and I want to thank the writers who took the time to not only score the players, but add their reasons for every game. This system allows for players to benefit from the big games, but also be penalised when they’re not exactly great.
As is the nature of the finals series, sometimes, one team plays more games than others, and that was the case in 2024. The Brisbane Lions played in four finals, which means the scoring was in their favour.
Below are the top three place-getters in the 2024 Mongrel Punt Player of the Finals Series.
3RD – CALLUM AH-CHEE (BRISBANE) – 31 pts
He was my personal pick, playing a tough role and standing up in critical moments in several games. Played a shutdown role on Lachie Whitfield, kicked critical goals against the Cats, and made Nick Blakey pay for risks taken in the Grand Final.
Fell three points short of the award, but is the Player of the Finals in my heart.
2ND – BRANDON STARCEVICH (BRISBANE) – 32 pts
This may come as a surprise to some, but Starcevich was instrumental in three of the four victories in the Lions’ finals run.
His highest score came in th Grand Final, when he put the brakes on Tom Papley and was one of several Lions to score 9+ in the game.
1ST – WILL ASHCROFT (BRISBANE) – 34 pts
Ashcroft scored a perfect ten in the Grand Final to secure the award, but he was no one-trick pony, with a powerful performance in the Elimination Final backed up with a stunning second half against the Giants, which kick-started the Lions’ midfield.
However, it was his Norm Smith-winning Grand Final performance that put him over the top and got him home by two points over Starcevich.
TEAM-BY-TEAM LEADERS
BRISBANE – WILL ASHCROFT
SYDNEY – JAMES ROWBOTTOM
GEELONG – GRYAN MIERS
PORT ADELAIDE – JORDON SWEET
GWS – JESSE HOGAN
HAWTHORN – JAMES SICILY
WESTERN BULLDOGS – SAM DARCY/CALEB DANIEL/ADAM TRELOAR
CARLTON – BLAKE ACRES/GEORGE HEWETT
Now, onto the Silly Season.
Also, don’t forget our Brisbane Lions Season Review Ebook – 80K+ words on the Premiers.
