Southport’s Stephanie O’Brien and Palm Beach Currumbin’s Tom Hickey claim top honours at 79th J.A. Grogan and Emma Zielke Medal awards
The next batch of standout performers have etched their names into the history books with Steph O’Brien adding to her brimming trophy cabinet while PBC’s Tom Hickey made a surprise announcement.
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Dual-code champion Stephanie O’Brien and the dominant Tom Hickey have etched their names into the history books following the 79th J.A. Grogan and Emma Zielke Medal Night for the 2024 QAFL and QAFLW seasons.
Southport Sharks’ star O’Brien cemented her place in QAFLW history by winning both the Emma Zielke Medal and the Coaches MVP award for the second consecutive year.
O’Brien secured the Emma Zielke Medal with a commanding lead after Round 12 of the 14-round season.
The 30-year-old finished with a total of 28 votes, including seven best-on-ground performances.
Notably, she accumulated 14 out of a possible 15 votes in her final five games, demonstrating a stellar finish to the season.
“I’m very shocked, it’s such an amazing honour,” she said.
“The whole team was amazing and I really didn’t think with such an great midfield at Southport that this would even be possible.”
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In addition to the Bond University QAFLW Coaches MVP, O’Brien was also named captain of the Team of the Year for the second year running, capping off an incredible year which saw her win her third Bond University QAFLW Premiership.
“One of the coolest parts about my role is to welcome these young 16 and 17-year-olds at the club and see them play those two or three standout seasons before they draw some extra attention,” she said.
“Their abilities and skills are just amazing, especially now when most of these young girls have been playing footy most of their lives.
“It’s a different game when you’re playing against adults but you can see their confidence grow each week and their really inspiring to have in the huddle.”
On top of it all O’Brien is also a standout star for the Ipswich Jets netball team that competes in the HART Sapphire Series.
The Jets took out the 2024 premiership, capping off a highlight year for O’Brien.
“The week for me is pretty full,” she said with a laugh.
“Two days during the week is footy training and two others are netball before games on Saturdays and Sundays.
“It’s full on and I have to recover pretty quickly but it’s amazing to do and I owe a lot to both clubs for letting me play in each competition.”
In his first season back in Queensland, recently retired AFL player Tom Hickey also claimed a double victory, taking out the 79th J.A. Grogan Medal and the Coaches MVP award.
Hickey, who dominated in the ruck all season, earned the J.A. Grogan Medal with 26 votes, outpacing the competition significantly.
“It was a really nice way to cap off the year, I really enjoyed my time at Palm Beach as they’re all a great bunch of young lads and hopefully they can go a bit better next season,” he said.
He led the league in clearances with a remarkable 206 and was top in contested possessions with 332.
Hickey delivered eight best-on-ground performances, including a standout period between rounds six and 10.
“My wife and I are both from Queensland so we were always going to return here post AFL but I wasn’t planning on playing to be honest,” he said.
“I was done with footy and my body was pretty sore until David Armitage, who I played six years with at St Kilda, gave me a call.”
“At the time I had gone for a few runs and hated it so I went down to training and figured if I wanted to stay fit I may as well be chasing after a footy.”
In the Syd Guildford Trophy Coaches MVP voting, Hickey polled in 14 individual games and secured the maximum 10 votes in five of those.
The star ruckman, who made his senior debut for Morningside in round eight, 2010 and last played in the QAFL 14 years ago, was also named in the QAFL team of the year.
“I don’t shut up most of the time so if I’m talking footy I can hopefully pass on as much knowledge as I can to the younger players in my side but also opposition guys where I see fit,” he said.
“There’s some really great young players coming through which is really nice to see and it’s been a joy to see the development in Queensland and just how strong the competition has become.”
After PBC unveiled Hickey as a resigning for 2025 last month, he announced on Sunday that he had instead decided to hang up the boots and leave footy on an individual high. He looks forward to spending more time with his wife, son and twin daughters.
“My wife has been incredible throughout my whole career and I love her more than anything so I’m excited to get my weekends back and be around my family.”
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
Emma Zielke Medal
Steph O’Brien (Southport), 28 votes
79th J.A. Grogan Medal
Tom Hickey (Palm Beach Currumbin) 26 votes
Syd Guildford Trophy, QAFL Coaches Most Valuable Player
Tom Hickey (Palm Beach Currumbin)
Bond University QAFLW Coaches Most Valuable Player
Steph O’Brien (Southport)
Bond University QAFLW Rising Star
Dekota Baron (Southport)
QAFL Rising Star
Ty Gallop (Maroochydore)
Bond University QAFLW Team of the Year
FB: Sara-Jane O’Grady (Maroochydore), Kaylee Kimber (Southport)
HB: Jasmyn Davidson (Bond University), Ayla Fetahagic (Coorparoo), Gracie Roy (University of QLD)
C: Lucy Schneider (Coorparoo), Jessica Davy (Aspley), Keyshia Matenga (Wilston Grange)
HF: Ella Calleja (Bond University), Steph O’Brien (Southport), Summer Hamilton (Wilston Grange)
FF: Maddy Baldwin (Southport), Jess Stallard (Aspley)
Foll: Georja Davies (Southport), Madeline Watt (Southport), Louise Tyson (Aspley)
Int: Laura Roy (University of QLD), Jane Childes (University of QLD), Lucia Liessi (Aspley), Chelsea Winn (Yeronga South Brisbane), Courtney Sexton (Bond University)
Captain: Steph O’Brien (Southport)
Coach: Peter Doherty (Southport)
QAFL Team of the Year
FB: Matt Doran (Surfers Paradise), Adrian Williams (Redland Victoria Point), Ethan Sekac (Palm Beach Currumbin)
HB: Josh Wagner (Maroochydore), Liam Dawson (Aspley), Josh Govan (Maroochydore)
C: Garrett McDonagh (Morningside), Will Fletcher (Sherwood), Blake Erickson (Broadbeach)
HF: Nakia Cockatoo (Morningside), Connor Stackelberg (Aspley), Aiden Fyfe (Labrador)
FF: Blair Rubock (Palm Beach Currumbin), Matt Hammelmann (Redland Victoria Point), Ben Woodburn (Surfers Paradise)
Foll: Tom Hickey (Palm Beach Currumbin), Rhys Mathieson (Wilston Grange), Tom Simpson (Labrador)
Int: Tommy Horne (Morningside), Mitchell Conn (Noosa), Matt Payne (Aspley), Jay Foon (Labrador)
Captain: Will Fletcher (Sherwood)
Coach: Phil Carse (Redland Victoria Point)
Bond University QAFLW Goal of the Year
Mia Geere (Wilston Grange)
QAFL Goal of the Year
Cory Beaman (Palm Beach Currumbin)
Bond University QAFLW Mark of the Year
Dekota Baron (Southport)
QAFL Mark of the Year
Elijah Reardon (Surfers Paradise)
Clem Ryan and Keith Wallis Medal, QAFL Colts Best and Fairest
Takoda Boltong (Maroochydore), 15 votes
Bill Clerke Medal, QAFL Reserves Best and Fairest
Ayden Punter (Labrador), 17 votes
Bond University QAFLW Reserves Best and Fairest
Jasmine Single (Bond University), 17 votes
Bond University QAFLW Leading Goal Kicker
Jessica Stallard (Aspley), 32 goals
Ray Hughson Medal, QAFL Leading Goal Kicker
Connor Stackleberg (Aspley), 66 goals
QAFL Colts Leading Goal Kicker
Hunter James (Maroochydore), 38 goals
QAFL Reserves Leading Goal Kicker
Daniel Archer (Palm Beach Currumbin), 46 goals
Bond University QAFLW Reserves Leading Goal Kicker
Poppy Priestley (Bond University), 29 goals
Originally published as Southport’s Stephanie O’Brien and Palm Beach Currumbin’s Tom Hickey claim top honours at 79th J.A. Grogan and Emma Zielke Medal awards
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