VFL 2018: the VFL’s Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal is a ticket to the AFL
THE Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal will be awarded to the most promising young player in the VFL, and winning it almost guarantees a ticket to the AFL. We run our eye over this year’s contenders.
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QUESTION: what do AFL players Kane Lambert, Michael Hibberd, Bayley Fritsch, Luke Ryan, Michael Barlow, Nic Newman and Dean Towers have in common?
Answer (and there is no prize for getting it right): they were all recruited from the VFL. And they all won the Fothergill-Round Medal as the league’s most promising player.
The medal has become the VFL ticket to the AFL: every recipient since Geelong’s Jason Davenport in 2006 has gone on to big football.
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Of the 29 winners, 18 made the rise to the AFL, starting with Ron Delulio in 1991.
The medal, for the “most promising’’ 23 and under player, was introduced in 1989. It recognises two players who won both a Liston Trophy in the VFA and a Brownlow Medal in the VFA/AFL, Des Fothergill and Barry Round.
This year it has been rebadged the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal to also acknowledge Sam Mitchell, who famously won the 2002 Liston with a staggering 31 votes from 11 games. In 2016 Mitchell and Trent Cotchin were retrospectively presented with the 2012 Brownlow.
Fritsch, now starring at Melbourne, was a standout candidate for the medal last season. But this year the selection panel faced the tough task of trying to split a sterling field that included Williamstown’s 2016 JJ Liston Trophy Michael Gibbons, Collingwood defender Marty Hore, fast-rising Werribee forward Josh Corbett and highly regarded Footscray Bulldog Will Hayes.
“It was an outstanding field, just purely by the weight of numbers when you look at the particular players and their performances throughout the year,’’ VFL talent operations co-ordinator Sam Sheehan said this morning.
“You could arguably make a case for six, eight, 10 guys, all with legitimate claims to win the award. Michael Gibbons is eligible, for example, and he’s won a Liston Trophy.’’
This year’s Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal will be announced at the JJ Liston Trophy presentation at Crown Palladium on Monday, September 10.
THE CONTENDERS
MARCUS LENTINI, COBURG
The first-year Lions midfielder had an outstanding season, collecting a league equal-best 509 disposals from 18 matches. No player had more contested possessions than the Northern Knights graduate’s 254.
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MICHAEL GIBBONS, WILLIAMSTOWN
Paul Roos drummed up some buzz about the Towners little man last week and Gibbons responded with a dazzling performance in the final round. Finished locked with Marcus Lentini for most disposals and led the VFL for clearances and inside-50s. The right-footer already has quite a medal collection: the 2015 Norm Goss Medal as best-afield in the VFL grand final, the 2016 Liston Trophy and the 2016 Frank Johnson Medal as best player for Victoria. He seems to collect them like some people collect stamps. If Gibbons misses on the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell he might just jag a second Liston.
PAUL ROOS PUSHES MICHAEL GIBBONS’ DRAFT CASE
MARTY HORE, COLLINGWOOD
The 190cm left-foot defender won Collingwood’s VFL best and fairest last year but believes he’s played with more consistency and influence this season. Led the league in effective kicks and rebound 50s, and dragged in 130 marks. Seems destined to get a chance at AFL level.
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CALLAN WELLINGS, COLLINGWOOD
The 2017 Greater Western Victoria Rebels best and fairest stepped up to the VFL with impressive assurance, playing 17 of a possible 18 matches. Runs all day, uses the ball well and is averaging 22 possessions. Might not win it but suspect he’ll be a stronger contender next year.
MACK RIVETT, PORT MELBOURNE
Has been on the VFL scene for a while but this year the rugged midfielder has helped the Borough overcome the departures of Toby Pinwill, Chris Cain and Sam Dwyer. Has gained mentions in the best in 10 of his 18 matches, putting him in best and fairest contention.
NICK HIND, ESSENDON
The half back and wingman has speed to spend and takes every chance to show it. Averaged almost 23 possession this season, and is among the VFL contingent off to the state combine.
WILL HAYES, FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS
The classy right-footer joined the Dogs in 2014, playing in the Chris Maple-coached premiership, and is up to 77 VFL matches. Was mentioned in draft dispatches in previous years and has been invited to this year’s state combine after a season in which he averaged 26 disposals. The son of leading horse trainer David Hayes.
FOOTSCRAY’S WILL HAYES KNOWS THE WAY FORWARD
HAYDEN McLEAN, SANDRINGHAM
The 2017 Sandringham Dragons captain finished the season with fizz, getting in the best in five of the last six matches. His strong marking and kicking make him a forward prospect but showed his competitiveness and versatility by rucking late in the season. Will be on a few AFL draft boards given his height (198cm) and agility.
JAKE AARTS, RICHMOND
A Beaconsfield product and a survivor of the old Bendigo Gold, Aarts is relishing his role at Punt Rd as a pressure-bearing small forward, just as happy to create goals as kick them. Another VFL player tapped to go to the state combine.
JOSH CORBETT, WERRIBEE
In his third year in the VFL, the 190cm forward was rising fast until he suffered an eye injury against Frankston in Round 12. It ended his season at nine matches and 22 goals. Still, the AFL interest in him remains strong and he was the only VFL player asked to the national combine. Will almost certainly be drafted and so fits the “most promising’’ aspect of the medal.
BEN CAVARRA, WILLIAMSTOWN
“And Ben Cavarra…’’ In the past four years no list of VFL drafts hopefuls has been complete without the little left-footer, who since joining the Towners has developed his forward craft (has kicked 33 goals this year). The Fothergill-Round-Mitch would go with his Morrish Medal in the TAC Cup and two best and fairests at both Eastern Ranges and Frankston.
LOCHLAN DICKSON, COBURG
Arrived at the City Oval with a good reputation made at Norwood in the Eastern league, and he enhanced it with a consistent season in the Lions’ back six. Averaged almost 21 disposals and used them neatly.
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KADE ANSWERTH (SANDRINGHAM)
The tough midfielder has given Sandy another strong season and is expected to figure in the finish of the best and fairest (he won the award last year and was runner-up in 2016).
ROLL CALL OF WINNERS
1989: Chris Owen, Preston
1990: Mathew Quirk, Oakleigh
1991: Ron De Iulio Box Hill Hawks
1992: Julian Shanks Williamstown
1993: Adam Williams, Sandringham
1994: Bruce Cohen, Box Hill Hawks
1995: Mark Porter, Coburg
1996: Paul Dooley, Williamstown
1997: James Puli, Werribee
1998: Andrew Shipp, Springvale
1999: Mark Passador, Springvale
2000: Michael Swan, Port Melbourne
2001: Kristian De Pasquale, Coburg
2002: Michael Firrito, Box Hill Hawks
2003: Aaron Davey, Port Melbourne
2004: Adam Fisher, Sandringham
2005: Jackson Barling, Williamstown
2006: Jason Davenport, Geelong
2007: Shane Valenti, Sandringham
2008: Robin Nahas Port Melbourne
2009: Michael Barlow, Werribee
2010: Michael Hibberd, Frankston
2011: Ahmed Saad, Northern Bullants
2012: Dean Towers, North Ballarat
2013: Kane Lambert, Northern Blues
2014: Nic Newman, Frankston
2015: Adam Marcon, Williamstown
2016: Luke Ryan, Coburg
2017: Bayley Fritsch, Casey Demons
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