AFL news 2023: The 23 biggest winners from another rollercoaster season
This year delivered plenty of winners across footy, but perhaps none were as nervous as a premiership Pie in September. SCOTT GULLAN recaps the 23 biggest winners from 2023.
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There are plenty throughout the AFL world who will see in the New Year with a big grin thanks to a 2023 which delivered them a reason to smile.
These are the 23 winners from the 2023 season.
NICK DAICOS
Who else do you start with when talking about the winners of 2023? In just his second year – we should repeat that, second year – he finished third in the Brownlow Medal (a late season injury cost him victory), won a premiership, finished third in the Norm Smith Medal voting and signed a massive contract extension. Oh, and he’s only 20.
LAURA KANE
A significant moment for women in sport with Kane landing the second most important executive position – behind the CEO – in football. With 10 years experience in the industry, both at club land and the AFL, and just in her early 30s, the appointment goes a long way to breaking down the “boys club” stigma of the previous administration.
JACK GINNIVAN
Got an ambassadorship out of going to the Moonee Valley races on Grand Final Eve, much to the dismay of many including his coach Craig McRae. Turned up the next day and played in a premiership, then three weeks later moved to Hawthorn on more money than he would have got from the Pies.
TAYLOR WALKER
Became the oldest all-Australian team debutant at 33 in the AFL era which goes back to 1990. Much to Kane Cornes’ chagrin, the Texan is suddenly getting better with age, kicking 76 goals 34 behinds in a brilliant season to earn himself another one-year contract.
TASMANIA
Finally the push to get an AFL team became a reality. The Apple Isle had previously had seven cracks at it since 1990 with every bid falling flat but not this time with league CEO Gillon McLachlan declaring “an important and historic day” for Tasmanian football in May. The new team is set to enter as early as 2028.
BLAKE ACRES
At his third club, Acres endeared himself to Carlton fans with a courageous and inspirational finals series. Despite a busted collar bone, the wingman was one of the most influential Blues in their stunning September highlighted by the winning goal against Melbourne in the semi-final.
DAKOTA DAVIDSON
The story of Brisbane’s AFLW premiership victory. In doubt all week after appearing to seriously injure her knee in the preliminary final, Davidson made it to the start line but was unsighted for three quarters in the GF before unleashing in the final quarter, kicking back-to-back goals to win the Lions their second flag.
JAMARRA UGLE-HAGAN
Made a memorable stance against racism, recreating Nicky Winmar’s iconic moment when he lifted his shirt and pointed to his skin after kicking a goal against Brisbane in Round 3. The Western Bulldogs forward had been the subject of racial abuse a week earlier. Went on to have his best season, kicking 35 goals and showing he is a star of the future.
JULIE McCREERY
The mother of Magpie Beau became a social media star after footage of her pre-game rev up to Collingwood players went viral. Pies coach Craig McRae invited Julie to address the team before the Mother’s Day clash against the GWS Giants with the move working – her son’s team went on to win by 65 points.
HARRY SHEEZEL
We thought Nick Daicos made a splash in his first year, well, Harry Sheezel said I’ll raise that. The Kangaroos draftee won the AFL Rising Star in a canter and then took out North’s best and fairest the Syd Barker Medal. The No. 3 pick averaged 27 touches per game, breaking the 33-year record for most touches across a maiden campaign, previously held by Collingwood’s Scott Russell in 1990.
PETER MALINAUSKAS
No-one had heard of him outside of South Australia until the Gather Round hit Adelaide. The charismatic Premier soon became Gill McLachlan’s best mate as the concept of playing all the games in the one state became a raging success. It was an economic windfall for SA with Malinauskas signing a three-year contract to keep it in the City of Churches before the round was even over.
DAMIEN HARDWICK
Went through the full 360 of emotions in 2023. Had grown tired and grumpy as Richmond coach so quit and went on a European holiday only to find his batteries were quickly recharged just in time for the Gold Coast Suns to present a mega six-year deal to him while he was sipping rose in Italy. The three-time premiership mentor inherits a list ready to burst out with finals in year one very much in the frame.
GILLON MCLACHLAN
He’s smiling mainly because it’s finally over. The AFL CEO had the longest farewell of any sporting administrator – it was in John Farnham areas – with plenty of backslapping on the way out. His right-hand man, Andrew Dillon, rightly got the gig to replace him but he has big shoes to fill with McLachlan, a genius operator who leaves with the game in the best shape it’s been for decades.
BRAYDEN MAYNARD
Caused a changing of the rules but luckily for the Pies hard man it was all after the fact. If Maynard cleaned up Angus Brayshaw like he did in the qualifying final next year he wouldn’t have played in the Grand Final. The case divided the football world with concussion now the biggest issue in the game and it’s fair to say Maynard knows he dodged a bullet with that one.
ADAM KINGSLEY
Was only getting noticed in the first-half of the season for looking like he was going to burst because of stress in the coaches’ box. Kingsley was a different man when he moved down to the bench on match day and his side responded, winning nine of their last 11 games to make the finals. The Giants were then stiff not to beat Collingwood in an epic preliminary final with Kingsley rightfully named coach-of-the-year.
CONNOR ROZEE
On the same day Rozee signed a massive eight-year contract extension and was named captain of Port Adelaide. Not bad work for a 23-year-old who was coming off an all-Australian season. His sidekick Zak Butters also signed a new deal and was made his mate’s vice-captain. An exciting time for the Power who are all chips in to win the flag in 2024.
WEST COAST EAGLES
Finally they have a reason to smile. After another diabolically bad season with calls for everyone from the coach to the boot studder to be given the flick, the Eagles held their nerve and kept the No. 1 pick in the draft which they rightly used on Victorian boy wonder Harley Reid. They’re calling him a generational player and if ever a team needs something to hang their hat on, it’s the Eagles.
DAISY PEARCE
We’re not sure which gold mine the Eagles have given Daisy Pearce to convince her to come and coach their AFLW side but we’re tipping it’s a lucrative one. After a year learning the ropes as an assistant with Geelong’s men’s team, the pioneer of the women’s game shocked many by accepting the big pay cheque to try her hand at the coaching caper with one of the worst teams in the competition.
BOBBY HILL
The story of the year. Fights back from cancer, requests a move to Collingwood and then wins the Norm Smith Medal. Hill was simply a joy to watch on Grand Final day, kicking four goals and taking a candidate for mark-of-the-year. Before the game Hill had watched his idol Cyril Rioli win the North Smith in 2015, and then went out there and did it himself.
ERROL GULDEN
Blew up the record books on Brownlow Medal night. The 21-year-old polled in 12 games, the most of any Swan in history, to finish fourth behind Brisbane’s Lachie Neale. At one point the stylish left-footer polled in seven straight games and nine times in 10 games. With his contract up at the end of 2024, he’ll enjoy Christmas thinking about how many zeros will be on his next one.
CRAIG STARCEVICH
Has no peer in the AFLW coaching ranks. Led Brisbane to their second premiership, continuing an incredible legacy of success. Only once during his seven-year coaching tenure have the Lions not reached at least the preliminary final stage. Despite his team being pillaged by rivals – three All-Australians left this year – Starcevich finds a way to rally his underdogs, as he did in the last quarter of the Grand Final against North Melbourne.
DARCY MOORE
Becoming a premiership captain and receiving the Cup from your father is a fair reason to end the year with a smile on your face. Moore’s evolution as a leader was one of the highlights of the year with his speech after the Anzac Day game a watershed moment. One of the big reasons – along with coach Craig McRae – why many who disliked Collingwood (and there are lots) found themselves warming to the Magpies.
TOBY GREENE
No player has enjoyed a more stunning turnaround than the GWS Giants star. Once the most hated man in football with controversy following his every move (think bumping into umpires), Greene took over the captaincy of the Giants and evolved into this wonderful human being who the entire AFL world fell in love with. Constantly won games for his team and now if you asked fans who is their favourite player outside of their own team, it’s Toby Greene.
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Originally published as AFL news 2023: The 23 biggest winners from another rollercoaster season
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