Ah February… the whips are cracking, the hamstrings are twanging, and we’re under thirty days until the first bounce of the ball for the 2025 AFL season.
Pumped yet?
It’ll sneak up on you.
And as it does its sneaking, in that ever-so-sneaky way, I will do my best to keep you updated on the important stuff… and then there are articles like this, as well.
As some of you know, and even fewer of you like, we run the annual Robbie Flower Wingman of the Year Award, here at The Mongrel Punt. The only award that actually targets wingmen and what they bring to the game, we are now entering year six of the award, with the past two years seeing Josh Daicos and Errol Gulden battling it out for the top spot. Are we about to see a third-straight season with these two swapping top spot?
We’ll soon find out. Until then, here are the 2025 seedings for the Mongrel Punt’s Robbie Flower Wingman of the Year Award.
Oh, and before I go on, our previous winners are listed below.
2020 – SAM MENEGOLA (GEEL)
2021 – PAUL SEEDSMAN (ADEL)
2022 – KARL AMON (PORT)
2023 – JOSH DAICOS (COLL)
2024 – ERROL GULDEN (SYD)
As always, I would like to take a moment to thank the Flower family for permitting us to use the name of the great Robert Flower as part of this award. It is something we take very seriously, and thus, we strive to make this award as fair and representative of best outside runners in the game, currently.
2025 SEEDINGS
2024 finish in parentheses.
1 – JOSH DAICOS (2)
Interesting to bump the second-place finisher from 2024 up into the top seed, but Daicos’ history in this award has been stellar, with three top-two finishes in the past three years. Unfortunately, this has only resulted in two wins, but provides an indication that he has been at, or near the top of the tree, in each of the past three seasons.
I am also more inclined to have him at number one as he gets sucked into the middle of the ground far less often than the number two seed. 202 fewer times in 2024, actually.
2 – ERROL GULDEN (1)
Last year’s winner did some amazing work on the outside, but as stated above, was continually thrown into the midfield by John Longmire. I wonder how Dean Cox sees his role?
For mine, Gulden is at his best when he is permitted time to settle and spot up a target. Playing in the guts prohibits that from happening as often as it should. If Cox likes him more on the outside, Errol will be mighty tough to beat.
3 – BLAKE ACRES (5)
Acres has had three-straight top-five finishes over the past three seasons, elevating his game both in his last year at Fremantle, and his two seasons at Ikon Park.
Quite possibly the best defensive wingman in the game (how many times did you see him get back on the goal line in 2024?), Acres’ running capacity is now huge, and he provides the Blues a trusted two-way player on the wing.
4 – ED LANGDON (6)
Another ultra-consistent performer, Langdon may no longer rack up huge numbers, but he still owns the outer wing at the MCG, and still plays the game without needing a breaking, despite running his guts out. He consistently makes the opposition make adjustments, and is going as hard in the last five minutes as he was in the first.
If the Dees are performing, he will get the recognition he deserves outside this award.
5 – MASON WOOD (13)
A bit of a wildcard selection as the fifth seed, as I am banking on him playing the whole year in the role, even though part of me wonders whether Ross Lyon might send him into defence to bolster the Saints back six.
Wood brings overhead marking skills to the table, and loves to push hard forward. Also, a very underrated kick of the footy to a leading forward. Keep an eye on that aspect of his game.
6 – FINN CALLAGHAN (9)
An interesting one, as there is a lot of speculation that he will spend more time in the middle. I guess we’ll soon see.
His long strides and powerful kicking give the Giants a potent weapon when he gets the footy in space. Strikes me as an 80-metre player, cable of running his 15 and then banging it 65 metres to a forward target.
I love him on the outside, but at his size, I can see why it would be tempting to throw him into the guts.
7 – MASSIMO D’AMBROSIO (3)
A bit low for the bloke who finished third overall in 2024?
Possibly, but we have a sample size of one season with him in the role, and he was really playing the wing role more like a spare half-back flank for a large part of the season. As evidence of that, Massimo was ranked sixth on the Hawks for average Rebound 50s, but just 12th for inside 50s.
Yep, you know I’m right with this stuff, don’t ya!
8 – JARROD BERRY (18)
If I asked you a few years ago, which of Jarrod Berry and Hugh McCluggage would be playing the most time on the wing, I reckon Clug would have been given the nod in 90% of answers. How things change…
Incredibly unsung part of the Lions’ setup, he has gone close to mastering the art of starting on the wing, and then locking down on an opponent to prevent easy defensive 50 exits – something that is not really addressed in much of the media.
Berry originally looked like he was set to be a permanent addition to the Brisbane midfield, but shoulder injuries have forced him to adapt, and the result is a wingman who can mix it up with the inside mids when called upon to do so.
9 – LACHIE SHOLL (8)
I’ve been waiting for this bloke to take the next step. Back when he was paired with Paul Seedsman, he looked like he was going to be a star. It’s taken him a bit longer than I would have liked, but the wings are there, and Lachie Sholl is now looking like the player I thought he’d be.
A elite runner, he is now adding the composure to his game to make him more of a threat.
10 – BAILEY SCOTT (7)
A complete workhorse, but so often, his disposal lets him down.
There were times last season when he did almost everything exactly right – got to the right spot, collected the footy, took off, took the game on… and then he botched the ensuing kick.
If he can start hitting more targets, he is capable of finishing in the top five.
11 – OLLIE DEMPSEY (11)
Really played a disciplined first season on the wing for the Cats, culminating with the Ron Evans Medal.
Loved the way he held his space and used that to launch the Cats into attack. He’s a keeper, and a top ten berth beckons in 2025.
12 – JASE BURGOYNE (28)
Predicting a big year for Jase. The gap between his best and worst needs to narrow, and if it does, he will be a huge force in this Port team.
There were some games in 2024 where he looked a cut above in his role. That was countered by some games where he’d disappear. The fewer of those in 2025, the higher he climbs.
So, with a couple leaping in from outside the top 12 overall from 2024, who is not seeded?
Brad Hill has dropped out. Ross Lyon started to use him more off half-back in 2024, and with players like Mason Wood, Liam Henry, Ryan Byrnes, and maybe Hugo Garcia all looking for time on the wing, I fear it could happen again.
Another is Jeremy Sharp, who started off with a bang at Freo and then tailed off a bit. I would have him sitting at 11th, as he does possess elite run, but if given the choice, I’d like to see what Nathan O’Driscoll can do in the role, as well.
And finally, I had Miles Bergman slotting in at 12th in 2024, which was amazing given the time he spent in defence, as well. I think he’ll be spending time propping up Port’s back six again this season, hence his omission from the top 12.
So, there we go, these blokes are the ones I believe should be in the mix for the 2025 Robbie Flower Award.
There are also kids like Caleb Windsor, Sam Clohesy, and Ollie Hollands pushing for spots, but they have been hit-and-miss to this point.
Anyone else I missed?