The Mongrel Punt 2024 Awards
We have reached the end of the 2024 Home and away season. Nine games are left to determine who will hoist the Premiership Cup this season. However, before we get there, the Mongrel Punt Team has assessed what has been and has had their say as to who should take home an array of awards—much like what the AFLPA would vote on.
Best Captain
Jimmy Day
I think I have to go with Bont. His ‘flu game’ is knowing that he puts the team on his shoulders and always stands up when his team needs him. Others have also been good this year, but Bont stands above … hopefully, he adds a Brownlow in a few weeks.
Timbo Higgins
As a Pies man, it really pains me to say this but I have to go with Patrick Cripps. He has had another very good season and would be in serious consideration for the Brownlow, but so many times this season he has carried this team and no job is too much to ask of him, including going into the ruck during Carlton’s injury crisis of the last couple of weeks. Cripps flat out refused to let his team miss out on finals this season, and is a huge reason why Carlton managed to hold on to their place in the 8.
Jono Mwanangela
I’ll have to go with Zac Merrett. He continues to impress me with his leadership year after year. If you asked me 5 years ago who I thought was a tough and courageous player, Merrett would be at the bottom of the list, but after the last two seasons he’s definitely earned that title. A couple of games that have struck me were the two times he played against Collingwood this season. He ends up with a ANZAC Day Medal in the first encounter and Essendon simply don’t win without his efforts in the second encounter. He may even end up being the All-Australian captain this year in the back of his efforts.
Slugger
I can’t split Cripps and Bontempelli for this. Both continually drag their teams back into matches, or completely over the line to win them. There are other great captains in this league, but I just look at both players’ performances in round 24 and to me, they just stand head and shoulders above the rest.
Hodgy
In terms of “which captain has been the best player” I’d go with Lachie Neale – I think he takes home the brownlow medal, however Zac Merritt takes this away in my opinion. At times he single handedly willed his beloved Bombers to either perform the improbable, or keep them within striking distance when all hope appeared lost..
His work rate was arguably unmatched as he often ventured down to the half back line to support his defensive unit to only then appear forward and kick a critical goal seconds later.
Matt Passmore
I’m really liking what Toby Greene’s doing at GWS. Since becoming captain, he’s pulled his socks up and his head in, and has got to work lifting the Giants to another level. He may not have the reputation that some of the other captains have, tarnished by the ill-discipline of his early career, but he’s been every bit the leader this season.
Jarred Ophorst
Boring answer but hard to go past Bontempelli. His consistency over the years to drag his side with him is unmatched and this year he’s taken it to a new level. I firmly believe that no Bontempelli means no Bulldogs. Without him, there’s no chance they make the eight this year in my opinion. Genuine gun and deserves all the praise.
Trent Shields
I considered Cripps and Bontempelli as the stand outs in 2024, and am awarding my vote to the Carlton man. Under significant duress and pressure for much of the year, without the support he’d probably expected, Cripps enhanced his reputation often almost single handedly keeping his side in the contest when the team fell well out of form. For a team with so many stars there are precious few leaders, and Cripps is a deserved winner.
Matt Oman
It’s Patrick Cripps. For me there’s really no other answer. The way he carries the Blues on his back time and time again, it’s quite remarkable. I’m not downgrading the work of the other skippers, but Cripps is Michael Voss like in his will to win, and if we’re being honest with ourselves, Carlton don’t make the finals this year without him. It’s that simple.
HB Meyers
Probably a few that could rightfully be named here, and nobody would bat an eyelid.
I’m going with Cripps on the basis that so often, his team just vacates the premises and it is left to him to drag them back in, kicking and screaming. Never shirks an issue, wins the hard footy, and had one of the best last quarters as a captain you’ll see earlier in the season.
JB Eddy
I’m going to buck the trend here and call out James Sicily since no one else has. The Hawks were expected to have another bottom-dwelling season, and they’ve managed to get themselves into 7th, beating out the reigning premiers as well as highly-fancied Carlton and Freo, even with a list that relies on some younger players to get the job done. Part of that is because they stick to their structure even when under pressure, driven by Sicily. His on-field leadership has been excellent, and he’s also not afraid to play the villain on occasion, especially if any opposition players want to give the young Hawklings a bit of a touch up, he’ll come in and start throwing his weight around. Cripps, Bont and Greene are all quality leaders, but I’d say they have a list that’s a little more mature, so they need to do a little less than Sicily.
The Doc
As a Dogs fan, of course, the first one I’ll consider is Marcus Bontempelli. He’s hardly had a bad game this year and should be right in the considerations for the Brownlow Medal, I believe not only does he stand up in the big moments, but he’s the best when it comes to impact per possession. But of course, it’d be remiss not to mention Patrick Cripps, Lachie Neale, James Sicily and Zach Merrett in this as well. All of them are tough, they never complain about the job at hand (Sicily just complains to the umps and then wrestles with the opposition, still great though) and they all play with a point to prove and stand up when it counts.
Matt Parnell
Marcus Bontempelli. Everyone’s saying it, hard to split he and Cripps- but he lifts his boys, they love him, they play for and through him, and the Blues have an inexplicable pants shitting quality that the Dogs don’t.
VOTES
Marcus Bontempelli – 5
Patrick Cripps – 5
Zach Merrett – 2
James Sicily – 1
Toby Greene – 1
Most Courageous Player
Hodgy
Let me preface this in saying I’ve not watched every game of the year so I’m sure there is somebody I’ve potentially missed, and while some of my cohorts have mentioned the exceptional exploits of Matt Rowell there has been another member of the Suns that I believe exemplifies the term courage.
An unheralded member of the Suns defensive unit, Bodhi Uwland I believe has been the most courageous player of 2024 as he routinely puts his body on the line either diving for smothers or getting back for an intercept mark or timely fist.. as a defender that is my definition of courage- I’ll definitely concede that there are multiple ways this can be looked at.
Timbo Higgins
How do you define the most courageous player? Looking at past winners it would be blokes who put their head over the ball and win it at the coalface. There have been a number of players you could put into this category this season, but the standout for me has been Matt Rowell. He is the real grunt player of the Sun’s midfield that allows guys like Flanders and Anderson to do what they do best on the outside.
Jarred Ophorst
It’s a tough question to answer, but my pick is Jeremy Mcgovern. This guy just fronts up week after week, and it seems like every year he’s forced to play through injury at one stage or another, and yet he still dominates his position. Playing an intercept marking game often means a complete disregard for the contest in the interests of marking the thing, and no one does it better than Mcgovern, great year and should be All-Australian.
Jono Mwanangela
There’s no one that’s struck me as more courageous than Matt Rowell this year. Every coach would love to have him in their side. I’m sure the Gold Coast boys walk taller with him out there also. He gives you conditional fight and effort. When I think about the way he goes about it, it’s always putting his head in a hole and fighting to death to win the ball for his team. That to me optimises courage.
Trent Shields
I didn’t know this award was limited to Gold Coast nominations, but it is nice for them to have a presence in September at least. I briefly contemplated giving a nomination to Josh Rachele, but his own teammates and coach have bullied him enough in the past fortnight to last a lifetime. So instead I’ll go a little left field and propose James Sicily. The Hawks polarising skipper has endured two painful shoulder dislocations throughout the season, only missing one match as a result. While all players push through varying niggles and pain, continuing to front up in a key role where you are required to repeatedly contest in the air with that injury requires an incredible level of mental fortitude, and courage.
Matt Oman
Man, I don’t know! How do you even define what makes a player courageous? I would argue that any player that steps onto the field has a level of courage that most of us don’t. It could be Harry Cunningham when he ran back with the flight into the oncoming Peter Wright. Could be Christian Petracca coming back onto the field on the King’s Birthday.
I’ll just say Zak Butters. He regularly puts his head over the ball, sometimes to his own detriment. And I love that about him.
HB Meyers
Jeremy McGovern. I know he has all those AA awards and is lauded as a wonderful interceptor, but the positions he constantly puts himself in invite blokes to run up and put their knee into his ribs or kidneys.
And they do.
And he keeps doing it.
Standing under the footy, knowing what’s coming your way, and not flinching at all… give me Gov as the most courageous player in the league, particularly as we’ve seen plenty of players duck out of the way in the name of self-preservation.
JB Eddy
I’d like to make a case for Jackon Archer. Courage is part of his DNA. The kid would attack the ball or the ball carrier with complete disregard for their size, his lack of it, or the potential impact to his wellbeing.
A lot of the other nominated players are bigger-bodied lads with a few seasons under their belt, so I put it to you, our wizened audience, that a kid with less than 25 games to his name and weighing about as much as Tristian Xerri’s T-bone dinner that is willing to mix it up with the biggest boys in the league shows a surplus of courage that may very well be to the point where his sanity should be questioned, and a reinforced pair of step ones should be commissioned to carry around his gargantuan testicles.
Jimmy Day
Call it Cats bias, or maybe it’s more because I just like the way he goes about it … Tom Atkins, the axe.
He’s not the most skilful player, but he’s the sort of bloke you want on your side. Tough, hard as nails, never shirks a hard ball, and makes you earn it every time. He’s had an up-and-down year, but he sets the defensive and pressure tone for the Cats. It’s good to watch a bloke with a tough, yet fair, edge.
The Doc
Given how much Jeremy McGovern has been battered and bruised in a crap West Coast team this year, I think he should earn most courageous this year. Was outstanding in games that he played and you knew what you’d get every time he’d step onto the field. A special mention to Jackson Archer, showed more than shades of his old man, who did win six ‘Most courageous player’ awards – he’s tougher than a two-dollar steak that lad.
Matt Parnell
I think the fact that Sam Naismith even made his way onto a football field makes him the Most Courageous in my eyes. He’s been battling his own body first and foremost, and although it was only for three games, he managed to battle both himself and anyone else on the field. Certainly won the mental battle, if not the physical.
VOTES
Matt Rowell – 3
Jeremy McGovern – 3
Zak Butters – 1
James Sicily – 1
Tom Atkins – 1
Sam Naismith – 1
Jackson Archer – 1
WINNER – Matt Rowell (Gold Coast) & Jeremy McGovern (West Coast)
Rising Star
Each of our writers is giving votes to five players – 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 – with the player with the most votes being appointed the 2024 Mongrel Punt Rising Star. We have one caveat that is different from the AFL: a suspended player is eligible to win this.
Jimmy Day
5 – Sam Darcy
He’s gonna be an absolute superstar. He just does things that a bloke his size shouldn’t be able to do. He Reads the play well, times his leads, and is really highly skilled. Has been outstanding in 2024.
4 – Ollie Dempsey
The Cat wingman is a great story. Spent most of his teens playing basketball, and then was rookie listed seemingly from nowhere – a Stephen Wells special. This is his third year on an AFL list, and he’s played every game. His ability to cover the ground, create something out of nothing, and positioning have been highlights. He has dropped a couple of hangars – it’s almost inevitable he will take Mark of the Year at some point. Dempsey has become a vital component in Geelong’s ball movement.
3 – Darcy Wilson
The only genuine first-year player I have on my list. His debut season has been incredible. His running power and speed have been great weapons for him, and he has found key moments in games to hit the scoreboard. He’s fun to watch and will no doubt have a decent highlight reel come the end of his career.
2 – Kai Lohmann
I think I referred to him as cement head in a review earlier this year. He’s tough, and just knows where the ball is going to go. He’s added an extra offensive threat for the Lions, while also adding to their pressure and intensity. A very good role player and contributor.
1 – Matt Roberts
Probably a little bit unsung in terms of the main contenders. Has been rock solid for the ladder leading Swans. He is consistent, hard-working, and plays his role, allowing others to flourish and take the spotlight. But they can’t do that without his consistency and contributions.
Honourable Mentions – Nick “The Wizard” Watson and Lawson Humphries
Timbo Higgins:
5 – Darcy Wilson
I may or may not have a sneaky tenner on him to win the award, which may or may not have influenced my vote, but all jokes aside the first-year player has come straight in to this Saints team and played every single game, often with high minutes in those games. Add in 15 goals from midfield, in a team that didn’t score a heap and he gets the votes from me.
4- Ollie Dempsey
The likely winner in his third year on the list. He runs up and down the wing all day for this Cats team and has some genuine dash as well as being very good overhead, which makes him a threat when he pushes forward also.
3 – Sam Darcy
Kicking a goal in every game bar one, while part time rucking, in a forward line that contains JUH and Naughton is no small feat. I would probably have him higher if it weren’t for his inaccuracy infront of goal
2 – Harley Reid
The fend off king! Had a pretty good year overall in a struggling (to be polite) West Coast team. It can’t be easy being a first year player in that team, and there have been times where I think his frustration has gotten the better of the him, but he’s still young and will likely provide many many highlights over his career. Surprised me with his aerial ability too!
1 – Jackson Archer
Given some big jobs on some dangerous forwards in the second half of the year and did them really well. Starting too look/play a bit like his old man with his attack on the man and the footy.
Hodgy
5- Ollie Dempsey
Has made a seamless transition to the AFL landscape and has been an outstanding pickup for the Cats
4- Sam Darcy
Might be a hot take, but I believe he will have a better career than the Dogs two other athletic key forwards..
Hopefully he has an absolute defined role for 2025 and beyond
3- Darcy Wilson
Has been absolutely outstanding for a plucky Saints outfit.. the future looks great if they can keep him with Phillipou for the years to come
2- Colby McKercher
Has been consistent across a somewhat unfamiliar half back role with the Kangaroos, with his exquisite foot skills a feature. Hopefully Clarkson lets him off the leash in 2025 as he oozes class with ball in hand
1- Bodhi Uwland
After a rocky start he turned the corner almost instantly to provide the Suns with a rock solid defensive option that bleeds for his club
Honourable mention – Nick Watson/Harley Reid
If “The Wizard” kicked straighter he could have been easily 5, however some accuracy issues plagued him early. Reid flashed his immense potential however often was left buried in the forward line with short stints in the midfield..
Definitely had the most “moments” of any of the draftees however ..
Jarred Ophorst
5 – Sam Darcy
This guy will own the league in two years time. Can play any key position on the ground and probably has the potential to be a top 5 Full Back, Full Forward, and Ruck all at the same time. His year was elite and you just have to give love to the big guys in these awards. Any mid can have 30 on their day, to be a young key forward that actually impacts the game from the start is the toughest ask in footy, and this guy is doing it.
4 – Ollie Dempsey
It annoys me that Geelong constantly have a stream of kids coming from nowhere to become integral in their everlasting success, and Dempsey is just another one of them. Kicks great snags, wins the footy, and looks likely to win the award this year, and deserves it.
3 – Harley Reid
Yes he’s had his ups and downs this year, and probably trailed off at the back end, but his best was unbelievable for a first year player. He was the only reason West Coast had a bit of mid year hope during the season when they won a few games, and it seemed like the entire team responded to that. He’s a generational player, and will likely be the best of the crop when all is said and done. Absolute gun.
2 – Logan Evans
I acknowledge this is a rogue pick. As a Port supporter, I had my doubts at drafting him mid year, quickly I realised how wrong I was. He was Port’s best in his first match against Brisbane (Port didn’t show a lot that day generally to be fair) and from then on he has gone from strength to strength. This kid looks to have a huge upside. He uses the ball well, has genuine guts about him, and can take a solid intercept mark. Can’t wait to watch his development moving forward.
1 – Kai Lohmann
If I’m Brisbane, Linc Mccarthy doesn’t get a look in again when he’s healthy. Lohmann has this energy about him that looks to have added a new dynamic to Brisbane’s forward half set up. Capable of kicking bags and doing maximum damage with minimal disposals, every team wants a guy like him. Great year by the kid.
Jono Mwanangela
5 – Ollie Dempsey
How do Geelong do it? They pluck ‘em out of nowhere, it is borderline unfair. Dempsey has been a revelation, bursting onto the scene with his high-octane energy. He’s got a bag of tricks with his goal-sense, elite skills on both sides and running ability. He started the year playing as a high-flying small forward who could kick goals from anywhere, then later transitioned into the win where his footy smarts have been on show. Hats off to him on a sensational year.
4 – Sam Darcy
There aren’t too many key position players that have the raw skills Sam possesses and there certainly aren’t too many that have been as good as Sam at the same age. He’s a pure definition of a unicorn, who started his career as a backman, before transitioning to a forward-ruck. With the height of 208cm, coupled with his agility and athleticism, he’s a very hard prospect to match up on even for the best defenders in the league. He’s barely scratched the surface yet, it’d be scary for the comp when he eventually reaches his full potential.
3 – Darcy Wilson
Saints fans will be stoked with how well Wilson has come along. He’s already up there with the best runner at his club and can run even the most seasoned of players into the ground. He’s a dream half-forward that uses his aerobic capacity to work right up the ground to help his backline. If he’s not running and carrying, he’s certainly slingshotting back hard to the forward line to create an option and get on the end of a goal. It will be scary for the comp once he becomes a full-time midfielder.
2 – Harley Reid
Not many rookies have had the impact Reid has had in his first year. He’s almost been a saviour for the West Coast Eagles and has brought back a bit of excitement for the club. You can see the Dusty comparisons with his trademark fend-offs that have left even the most experienced players wondering how he does it. He plays on the edge and plays with an aggression that’s very hard to replicate for most 18-year-olds. The sky’s the limit for this kid.
1 – Matt Roberts
Roberts gets a vote due to consistency and hardly putting a foot wrong. In any other year, he’d be up there with the favourites. But due to the pool of young talent across the competition, Roberts almost falls under the radar. He’s been nothing but consistent at half-back, in a top-of-the-ladder side that has a plethora of talent. Even though he lets others shine, he’s still been entrusted with having the ball in his hands because he generally makes the right decision. He’s behind about half a dozen players to play in his preferred role as an inside mid, but he’s been good enough that they’ve had to find another position for him to squeeze into the side. Don’t pay attention to him at your own peril.
Slugger
All the contenders have been well broken down by now so i’ll just give you my rankings and a brief snapshot.
5 – Harley Reid
Even in a team down by 100 points, Reid still gets fans excited about what he can do. In his first year he already propelled the Eagles to multiple wins. Reid has already shown why he is considered a generational player.
4 – Ollie Dempsey
The best rising star nominee this year. Regardless of suspensions.
3 – Sam Darcy
Who knows how high this kid’s ceiling is. I can’t wait to see what he delivers in his first final.
2 – Nick Watson
Speaking of exciting kids in finals, none other on this list may have been more specifically created for such an event. Paired with Jack Ginnivan and the Showtime Hawks could worry a few teams.
1 – Kai Lohmann
Where do the Lions keep pulling these star kids from? What a rise for Lohmann who looks already established in a team hoping to launch a serious premiership tilt from 5th.
Trent Shields
5 – Harley Reid
The highly touted junior delivered in spectacular fashion for the flagging West Coast Eagles, already becoming one of their most important players and beacon of hope for the future. You can clearly see he is not the finished product, JHF is a good guide for his development timeframe, but is already so bombastically influential.
4 – Sam Darcy
The tall Dog rocketed into contention for this award after starting the year slowly, and only showing glimpses primarily due to health in 2023. His confidence and impact have surged as has his team’s fortunes, not sure which led the other, but what he has proven to be is an exciting talent who can win matches now.
3 – Kai Lohmann
The young Lion was thrust into the limelight with the spate of injuries suffered by his team early in the year, and has done an excellent impersonation of Linc McCarthy in filling that second small forward role, and at times even exceeding Charlie Cameron’s output.
2 – Nick Watson
Elite defensive capabilities weren’t necessarily part of the highlights package used to promote the Wiz in the lead up to the draft, but have been a powerful addition to the wonderful ball getting and scoring capacity of this unique player.
1 – Oliver Dempsey
Fitting the Geelong mold perfectly in somehow being a 30 year old eligible for an Under 21 award. Has fitted in to the Cats machine seamlessly and provided great connection from defence to forward with a fantastic ability to hit the scoreboard.
Honourable mention: Darcy Wilson, Darcy Jones – both have made tremendous contributions to their teams throughout 2024, adding vibrancy and goal scoring power and should become stars in the coming years.
Matt Oman
5 – Sam Darcy
Luke is no longer the best player in his family. A premature call, I know, but I’m willing to stand by it. A player of his size shouldn’t be able to do the things he can do. There’s something very special about this kid.
4 – Darcy Wilson
There’s just something I love about Darcy Wilson. He seems to be the type of player that gets it done each week, with a minimum of fuss. He already looks like a 200 gamer in his composure and ability to find space and time.
3 – Nick Watson
This one is hard. I didn’t want my Hawks to draft him with the fifth pick. I just think you can find crafty small forwards later in the draft. Think Luke Breust. And halfway through the season, when Watson couldn’t hit the side of a building from a metre away, I felt vindicated. But he’s grown on me. He’s been vital in Hawthorn’s resurgence, and if he keeps it up, he’ll earn that Wizard nickname.
2 – Logan Evans
This one will be quite controversial. But from nowhere, Evans has deleted himself in a backline that includes Aliir Aliir, Dan Houston and Kane Farrell. And now that the latter two stars are absent for the rest of the year, Evans’ importance to Port’s structure has skyrocketed.
1 – Harley Reid
I had to include him. He’s just been brilliant for the Eagles, and I really hope he sticks around through the dark times. Reid is exactly what West Coast needed, and his aggression and toughness has inspired his teammates.
HB Meyers
5 – Harley Reid
Absolutely everything you want from a number one pick. Tough, uncompromising, and comes complete with just the right amount of mongrel. West Coast needed someone to stand up and make a change this season. They had a few do this, but none was better than Reid in drawing his own personal line in the sand, and taking anyone to task should they dare to cross it. Hype = justified!
4 – Ollie Dempsey
I love a good wingman, and Dempsey has played the role with a maturity that belies his age. Keeps his width, and knows when to go forward to inflict damage. Has been the best player on the park, at times in 2024, and in a Cats team that is a threat, how he handles September will be a very interesting watch.
3 – Sam Darcy
Looked like Paul Salmon out there, at times. If Jack Dyer were commentating on his marking ability, he’d say he was reaching up with his big testicles!
Of course, he’d mean tentacles, but far out… it’s Jack Dyer – leave him alone!
Could carry a forward line, but won’t actually have to. That’s scary.
2 – Matt Roberts
Playing half-back can cause a severe case of stat-inflation, but in watching Matt Roberts, I see a bloke that doesn’t need to sneak off to the side to pick up cheap touches, like Joe Ganino in an alleyway. His last month and a half has been excellent, after a pretty fast start to the year and a lull in the middle.
1 – Nick Watson
Tell ya what… he kicks straighter, and there’d be quite a few more people singing his praises. Strikes me as the type of kid who is going to loooove playing in September.
JB Eddy
5 – Ollie Dempsey
4 – Sam Darcy
3 – Harley Reid
2 – Matt Roberts
1 – George Wardlaw
The Doc
5 – Sam Darcy
Midfielders are a dime a dozen in football, it’s a lot harder for a 21-year-old who stands two metres tall to impact games in the matter that Sam Darcy has this year. 37.22 in a team that also boasts Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Aaron Naughton is very impressive numbers for someone so early on to his career and he already has shown how good he is in the air.
4 – Harley Reid
Honestly, it’s hard to split Darcy and Reid, because they impact the games in different ways. But make no mistake about it, he showed so much in his first year in Eagles colours and proved in many games why exactly he was leaps and bounds the best talent in last year’s draft class. He’s going to be so exciting to experience and watch over the coming years.
3 – Ollie Dempsey
He’ll probably win the actual Rising Star award, but there’s no argument about how he’s gone about his football in a side that has made top four. Dempsey broke out to play every game this year and nailing a spot as a wing/half-forward type. He’s shown great pace and is damaging with his disposal on his best day.
2 – Darcy Wilson
Another player that played all 23 games this year, Darcy Wilson was perceived as a steal on draft night and has been a shining light in what was a poor year overall for the Saints. He’s proven in one year where to run to recieve the ball and to be a forward threat as well, kicking 15.14 in his debut year.
1 – Matt Roberts
Found a role and nailed it down this year across the back half, being able to distribute the ball and find the best decisions as a rebounding type. Did get moved up onto a wing and was dropped during the year, but bounced back late in the year to record 30-plus disposal games in round 20 and round 24. In his third season, he’s had an excellent breakout season.
Matt Parnell
I think the essays are done so this is just a 5-1
5- Sam Darcy
4- Ollie Dempsey
3- Harley Reid
2- Matt Roberts
1- Lawson Humphries
VOTES
Sam Darcy – 50
Ollie Dempsey – 43
Harley Reid – 33
Darcy Wilson – 20
Matt Roberts – 9
Nick Watson – 8
Kai Lohmann – 7
Logan Evans – 4
Colby McKercher – 2
George Wardlaw – 1
Lawson Humphries – 1
Bodhi Uwland – 1
Jackson Archer – 1
WINNER – Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs)
Best Coach
Jimmy Day
Initially, I was deciding between Chris Scott and Sam Mitchell. But then, I think back to the chorus of boo’s Ken Hinkley received earlier this year, and the response from his side. The players clearly love him, and they have brought the fight. He’s navigated injuries, players being out of form, and bringing in young players … and the Power have finished second. I tip my hat to you, Ken.
Timbo Higgins
It has to be Sam Mitchell for mine. Started the season 0-5 with a paltry percentage of 64%, and now find themselves in an elimination final against the Dogs this weekend. They are also really fun to watch and the players seem to be enjoying themselves. Certainly ahead of where many thought they would be, and some shrewd acquisitions in the off-season have helped with that. Guys like Ginnivan, Chol & D’Ambrosio are making a mockery of the clubs who let them go for a pittance and have more than played roles for this Hawks team – so where other coaches couldn’t see the potential/get a tune out of these guys, Mitchell has been able to which makes him the coach of the year for me.
Jono Mwanangela
I want to go a bit different here and say Luke Beveridge. He’s been one of the more under-pressure coaches that has had a lot of scrutiny. There were murmurs early in the season when the Dogs weren’t flying that he’d get the sack. He’s made tough and sometimes questionable decisions with the handling of Macrae, Daniel and to a certain extent, Dale. He’s stuck fat with what he knows, has made the Dogs are far better team that’s hard to play against and has fixed their defensive woes. Now he finds himself with his team sitting in 6th place on the ladder and if there’s any team that could go on to win the flag from outside of the top 4, then it’s definitely Bevo.
Hodgy
Sam Mitchell
0-5 to finals, enough said..
Slugger
It’s Chris Scott and I don’t care what you say. He coached the Cats to another top 4 finish. With 15 wins and a 5-2 record interstate. About 5% of people had Geelong scraping into the top 8, but none had them in the top 4 during the pre-season. He also uncovered a smattering of new talent to refresh the playing group like Lawson Humphries, Ollie Dempsey, Shannon Neale & Shaun Mannagh. Not to mention new roles for the likes of Miers, De Koning and Stewart. This team is vastly different from the one that went all the way in 2022, yet Scott has refused to let the word “rebuild” enter the mind of anyone associated with Geelong in the last decade.
Jarred Ophorst
Sam Mitchell by a country mile. Hokball, enough said.
Matt Oman
I don’t even think my opinion is biased anymore. It’s Sam Mitchell. Everyone thought we’d be bottom four. That it’d be a 10 year rebuild. That Mitchell wouldn’t be there when Hawthorn next played finals. Oh, he’s there. And with this list, he’s only just getting started.
HB Meyers
Adam Kingsley. I love what he’s done with GWS… Toby Bedford as a tagger, Whitfield permanently at half-back and not thrown all over the park, the evolution of Kieren Briggs, the way the team defence covered the loss of Sam Taylor.
I’m telling you – if I was not a Hawks man, I would follow GWS because they are a team to be respected for the way they go about it, and Kingsley is a massive part of that.
JB Eddy
Hard to go past Sam Mitchell at the moment. With the youth and poor start the Hawks had, to make finals is a huge result. They’ve looked like world beaters at times.
Trent Shields
A pretty good bunch to select from, John Longmire who claimed the McClelland Trophy after a poor 2023, Chris Scott getting the Cats back in to the top four, Sam MItchell somehow coaxing the Hawks out of the bottom four doldrums back to September, but I’m going to go with Port’s Ken. A fourth top 4 finish in five years, constantly under scrutiny and having the baying mob of media pundits ready to replace him, his own supporters booing him off the ground, and yet somehow he’s retained his pride and humility and reinvented his side into contested, fearless beasts. Port generally don’t have a lot of admirers outside of Alberton, but I think most footy fans would enjoy seeing Ken wear a Jock McHale medal.
The Doc
Hard to go past either Sam Mitchell or John Longmire. In past years, you’d back in the coach that finished as the minor premiers and had a stranglehold on the competition for about 80 per cent of the season. But there’s something to be said about how Sam Mitchell has coached his team this year. To get from 0-5 to seventh in an incredibly close season is a fantastic achievement and the brand of football is so fun to watch. Hok Ball is the hottest thing in football right now and Sam is at the forefront of it.
Matt Parnell
It’s a homer pick, but I’m taking John Longmire. Best record, best team at their best, most impressive choke… even when he was bad, he was good at it. Plus, surely the ‘Best Coach’ award goes to the coach with the best record every other year anyway. Not much more to be said about Sam Mitchell’s impressive year that hasn’t already been said, so I’m not gonna say it, but he’s obviously been excellent.
VOTES
Sam Mitchell – 6
Ken Hinkley – 2
Luke Beveridge – 1
Adam Kingsley – 1
Chris Scott – 1
John Longmire – 1
WINNER – Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
Moment of the Year
Jimmy Day
I had the Mac Andrew mark and goal after the siren at the top, until the Jack Higgins goal in Round 24 to almost end Carlton’s season. That was just peak football drama!
Hodgy
So many moments in a rock and roll season…
I’ll go with Collingwood’s comeback win against the Lions in round 23 that kept their season alive.
Timbo Higgins
Collingwood’s epic comeback against North Melbourne. Over 50 points down 1 minute into the third quarter, to comeback and win by a point was pretty special, regardless of the opposition. Bobby Hill with 5 goals and a (likely) mark of the year winner, another controversial umpiring decision at the end. I was watching it at the Bucks party and the last 5 minutes every single person there was invested in the game.
Jono Mwanangela
Mitch McGovern’s kick after the siren against Collingwood. It was like the reverse Dan Houston/Jamie Elliot of 2024.
Jarred Ophorst
Two ways of looking at this, so two answers it is.
Moment One: Josh Treacy goes down against the Bombers.
When Treacy goes down with a PCL against the Bombers, Freo’s season goes down with him. This guy was incredible this year, and has become arguably my favourite player in the comp. Freo looked listless forward of the ball following his injury, and dropped all three games in his absence to miss finals. Freo had close losses against all of Geelong, GWS and Port Adelaide in his absence. If Treacy is out there, they win at least one, if not multiple and make finals. Instead, a realistic chance at a first flag goes begging.
Moment Two: DBJ wins it at the death.
The positive, Darcy Byrne-Jones with that last second goal against Hawthorn was the stuff of dreams. Port had no right to win that game, and yet found a way late to get it done. DBJ has had a pretty impactful year as a small forward, and this was well and truly his magnum opus of the 2024 regular season, if such a thing exists. That game wasn’t pretty, and I never thought Port Adelaide would win, until they did. Awesome stuff.
Slugger
I think it’s two moments telling a story of two teams wanting to break through to the elite teams in the competition. Adelaide and Essendon played two fantastic games in season 2024, with two huge moments deciding them. And two players featured late in both games. In the first match, Josh Rachele did not have his greatest game or best moments in the last quarter. Meanwhile Sam Draper delivered for the Bombers late and celebrated accordingly after the match. Fast forward 13 rounds and the roles were reversed. Draper falling short in front of goal late in the game. Meanwhile Rachele plays one of his better games and delivers in the clutch moment for the Crows. Two sides of the same coin.
Matt Oman
Sigh…..it’s Darcy Byrne-Jones’ winner. I was there, and I sat in complete disbelief when it happened. I still can’t believe we lost that game, especially in the manner we did.
Seriously. How the hell did we lose that game?
HB Meyers
I kind of gravitate to things that piss me off more than I do things that made me jump out of my seat, so I am trying to be balanced, here.
The moment I hated was seeing Izak Rankine pinged for running too far when the Crows were coming home hard against the Pies. It just continued the “woe is me” attitude that has shrouded the Crows for a couple of years now.
As for the best… it might be every single time Zak Butters gets a head of steam at a contest and causes absolute chaos. Whether he lands a bump, prompting the commentators to tell him to be careful (seriously… STFU and stop telling players how to play), or he going flying through and an opposition player decides to do something silly, and drag him down. He is a chaos merchant – a game changer, and I love watching him play.
JB Eddy
Darcy Bryce-Jone’s last-minute match-winner against the Hawks in Round 10.
Hawthorn are 11 points up with the clock showing 32 minutes, and the broadcast stopwatch claiming less than 50 seconds to the siren. A quick goal to Rioli gives them the faintest of sniffs, then the sheer chaos ball movement sets up Bryce-Jones with a chance at glory, which he happily takes to give his team the lead for the first time in the match as the final seconds tick away to the siren.
He’ll dine out on that moment for the rest of his career, and fair enough too.
Trent Shields
Easy one for me, the Wizard kicking his 7th before half time in a blow out Hawks premiership romp! Oh you meant from the H&A season? Well sure I’ll go a little left field here too and highlight a dual nominee of opening round and gather round. There’s a line in the seminal Mike Brady song ’Up there Cazaly’ which goes ‘Me? I like football’, and that’s a pretty apt description of my attitude, so anything that tries to make footy a little better, even if it is gimmick, is A-Ok with me.
The Doc
I think we’re currently witnessing the biggest moment of the season in Christian Petracca. Was a massive story when he got crunched on King’s Birthday and was allowed back on. The incident wasn’t the only factor in his decision to move clubs, obviously,, but the fact that we have now snowballed from there to where we are now is huge for the context of the AFL landscape, given he’s one of the more marketable players in the competition and one of the better players at that. Chances are he probably won’t leave the Demons, but between now and the end of the trade period, anything can happen.
Matt Parnell
Realistically, it’s the Jack Higgins goal against Carlton. It had everything you come to footy for- drama, high stakes, just enough doubt to bring up the mighty crypto.com score review- and that it came so late, turning the game, justifying the AFL’s peculiar fixturing and ensuring that the final game of the season had tangible, genuine stakes made it all the better.
On a personal note, my moment of the year was watching the MCG empty halfway through the third quarter of Sydney/Collingwood in Round 1. The first moments where you start to believe your team might be on this season paired with the joy of watching the reigning premiers fans stream from the stadium is a special kind of bliss.
Leigh Matthews Trophy – AFLPA MVP
Trent Shields
Bontempelli, Naicos, Cripps all have great resumes and very valid arguments to be crowned the Lethal winner in 2024, but I’ve narrowed it down to two match winners, both from NSW #vicbias be damned)!
Jesse Hogan, the Coleman Medalist and one of the most unstoppable marking forces in recent memory, possibly you’d need to go all the way back to Matthew Lloyd and Jason Dunstall to find such surehandedness from a key forward.
Isaac Heeney, into his 9th season after being the next big thing for much of that time has finally delivered to his full potential, and what a sight it has been.
I get the feeling that one of these two could drive their club to the elusive premiership this year, and it is an absolute flip of the coin based on what they delivered thus far in 2024, but will recognise Heeney as the standalone MVP for elevating his match winning capabilities from the forward line into the midfield.
HB Meyers
It’s gotta come from one of the top four, as far as I’m concerned. The best player on the best team is what the MVP should be for, and given the year he’s had, I cannot go past Isaac Heeney.
I mentioned Patrick Cripps earlier, and that massive last quarter he had early in the year. Heeney topped it. It was ridiculous the way he took over against Collingwood, basically doing everything you could want a player to do to carry his team over the line.
I suppose the only drawback was that on that occasion, he had a brilliant running mate, in Chad Warner, and The Chad’s form in a stretch might end up costing Heeney the Brownlow, however, if you’ve watched all season, I don’t know how you could go past Heeney as the best player in the league, on what has been the best team in the league.
If only he played that last round…
Jarred Ophorst
In a similar vein to HB, you need to be playing finals to win this award in my opinion. Finishing outside the eight gives much less credence to individual achievements in our game in my opinion. For me, much like the best captain, it has to be Bontempelli.
The guy just gets it done week after week and drags his men with him. No one is more deserving of this award (and a Brownlow but Daicos probably wins that) than the Bont. Every time you watch him play he has an aura about him, he lifts when he needs to, bobs up for a goal whenever required, and always has an impact. Fantastic season by him, and deserves all the plaudits that come his way.
Matt Oman
Everything that I said about Patrick Cripps in the ‘Best Captain’ section also applies here. When you think Most Valuable Player, it’s impossible to go past the man who single-handedly dragged his team into September.
You could mount a case for Marcus Bontempelli, and certainly he’d a worthy winner. Nick Daicos is worth a huge mention as well, but the fact that Collingwood missed finals lands him on the podium, but no further.
Hodgey
In a race as close as the 100m Olympic final, I believe it’s Nick Daicos that should win it, he has completely transformed the narrative about not being able to win his own ball- and in turn put together some mesmerising football for the season.
Now on to who I think will win it..
I think Cripps takes it away, however, I believe the narrative will be that it’s due to the injuries sustained by his supporting cast.. I also reckon the underrated return of Sam Walsh definitely loosened the shackles on Cripps
JB Eddy
I see this as a three horse race between Cripps, Bontempelli and Daicos, but, I’m ruling Daicos out because his team, the reigning premiers, missed finals. Yes, at his age he is incredibly good, and could very well evolve into an all-time legend, but this award doesn’t make allowances for age, only results.
And with that in mind, I’m taking Cripps.
Led the league in contested possessions, clearances, though Bont did lead in score involvements and rate high in most areas, Cripps just shaded him in a lot of ways that matter. They do play different styles of football, but I personally just love watching Cripps go about his business of breaking lines and busting through packs. Maybe it’s wrong to base the final call on aesthetics, but if the tribunal can take the ‘good bloke’ defence as valid, then I’ll use it here too.
Jimmy Day
I’ve been calling it the Bontlow since about halfway through the season, so, I need to stick with my guns.
I feel like there might be some random result in this given the nature of the season – like a Hawks player or a Tristan Xerri – but, Bont has been close to incomparable in season 2024. He has been the difference regularly for his side – even when they were struggling at times.
Heeney, Daicos, Merrett, Neale all in the mix.
The Doc
I’d love to see the Bont win it, and he’s certainly a chance, but I think it’s going to be going to Nick Daicos or Patrick Cripps. Both have been awesome in their roles in the midfield this year. I think Heeney had a great start to the year but a terrible ebb mid-season has cost him. Could even see someone like a Caleb Serong put into the mix as well – had a strong year in the midfield at Fremantle, despite the fact they didn not make finals.
Matt Parnell
Everything’s telling me it’s Heeney, but this time it’s probably Cripps. Take Heeney out of this Sydney side and they’re better than Carlton are without Cripps, which, from a purely value perspective, makes him more valuable than anyone else in the comp.
