Back in the day (2023 to be exact), I had a reader suggest that we expand our Defensive Player of the Year criteria to recognise young defenders, as well.
I am always open to good ideas (have kids, they said… it’ll be fun, they said…) so I took it onboard, and in 2024, we commenced tracking the young defenders in the AFL.
This is assessed a little differently to the regular DPOY award. After each round, The Mongrel Punt allocates a young defender a score out of ten for each game that partake in. The defenders must be aged 22 or under at the commencement of the season.
We then have a running total, so continued good performances probably trump a few excellent ones, if that makes sense.
This award recognises consistency. Missed games are a killer. It also watches for when players switch roles. Penalties, or no score at all, apply in those instances. It cost Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera the award in 2025, as he switched from half-back to the guts two thirds into the season, and was reeled in by the peloton.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
2024 – TRENT RIVERS – MELBOURNE
2025 – JAKE BOWEY – MELBOURNE
This is one of the reasons I don’t think Melbourne are in as deep a hole as people think. Good teams have solid defences, and Melbourne have not only these two, but Blake Howes and Disco Turner to develop in the back half.
So, here we go – the top ten after the first two weeks of the season.
Yep, that’s it for non Inner-Circle members. Sorry people – see below.
Now, I know some of you will ask – I am a member; why can’t I see this? This is for the Inner Circle Member tier – always has been. This is what these people generously pay a bit extra for, so I am more than happy to dive deep for them when it comes to this content. If you’re a Mongrel Member and you’d like to upgrade, go right ahead. If not, that’s cool, as well. But this is not a new thing – has been that way for over three years now. Wanna join them?
