AFL awards: All-Australian snubs that don’t add up
There are always hard-luck stories from the All-Australian team — but none might have had as compelling a case as James Sicily. Jon Ralph looks at the stars who should have been picked.
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The All Australian selectors pretty much nailed their brief with an exceptional side that meant we were left to quibble at the edges in a night that still had its share of surprises.
Former selector Matthew Richardson believes it is an insult to selectors to raise points of order but it is exactly what these sides are for - to debate, to dissect, to acclaim, to provide bye-week content.
LEGACY CAPTAIN?
Tom Hawkins’ unique brand of leadership should be an example for every player in the AFL.
It isn’t the fire-and-brimstone variety we have come to expect, but the ever-green Geelong forward has nailed that brief this year.
He has worked closely with rags-to-riches success story Tyson Stengle, perfected the work-life balance so evident at Geelong, found another gear every time Chris Scott called on him.
And typified the selfless ethos of this club with 43 direct score assists and 191 score involvements to go with 59 goals.
There were more than a few eyebrows raised in the Centrepiece function venue on Wednesday when he was awarded All Australian captaincy ahead of Max Gawn, Patrick Cripps and Touk Miller.
Hawkins knew what we all knew - he was the All Australian captain in part as a legacy piece, not because he was the best leader of men in the old-fashioned strict definition.
It is now a title that gets shared around with no real criteria, and therefore no real acclaim for the player selected.
Yet if we had a better understanding of the award and its terms of reference it would be easier to bask in Hawkins’ greatness rather than wonder why Gawn was overlooked.
Selector Kane Cornes said on Thursday morning the All Australian panel was unanimous.
By any measure Max Gawn’s capacity to navigate the rocky waters of the 2022 season - with a coach at one stage besieged, with teammates trading blows - to finish second on the ladder made him the easier choice.
Or Patrick Cripps, fighting a one-man battle to the end against Collingwood, or the brilliant and irrepressible Touk Miller.
Alex Rance has been lumped into that category after his captaincy of this side in 2017 but he was an on-field general, with the better example Lance Franklin in 2018.
If we are going to give someone the captaincy of the All Australian team, who should know if it is for legacy or leadership because the current confusion only invites questions about whether Hawkins was the right man for the job.
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WAS JAMES SICILY STIFF?
Damn straight.
According to Champion Data of all key defenders he was the No. 1 in player ratings, the No.1 in disposals, uncontested possessions, metres gained and marks, the No.2 in marks, the No.2 in intercept possessions and had the seventh-most intercept possessions in a home-and-away season.
But Steven May, Sam Taylor, Tom Stewart, Jack Sinclair and Adam Saad were locks so it was Sicily or Maynard.
If the All Australian selectors were going to overlook those overwhelming stats, they had to choose a player who encapsulated everything good about Collingwood this year.
James Sicily 🟤🟡
— Corey Mobilio (@coreymobilio) August 24, 2022
Key Defender Ranks
No.1 Player Ratings
No.1 Disposals, Uncontested Poss, Metres Gained & Marks
No.2 Intercept Possessions
7th Most Intercept Possessions won in a H&A season ever.
Only knock on the side.
Brayden Maynard was that man, whose ferocity at the ball and man showed Collingwood’s never-say-die attitude.
Sicily averaged 114 ranking points to Maynard’s 83 - nearly 30 more points while averaging five more disposals averaging 598 metres gained and while dominating his opponent.
What he missed were those big game-changing moments that Maynard’s Pies had in spades.
Many would have preferred Sicily to Maynard, but if that is the biggest selection talking point it is a damned fine All Australian team.
WAS RORY LAIRD TOO OFF-BROADWAY?
Rory Laird probably never stood a chance in an eight-win Adelaide side.
But it doesn’t mean his season shouldn’t be recognised.
He averaged 33 possessions, an astonishing 8.1 tackles, 128 ranking points.
Critics might argue he didn’t hurt enough with his touches - only 391 metres gained, only one score assist a game - but in another year he would have been a worthy admission.
DO PLAYERS ACTUALLY WATCH MUCH FOOTBALL?
The AFLPA Most Valuable Players award is a funny old beast.
Players nominate three of their own for the award, which has at times meant Patrick Dangerfield hasn’t been nominated by his teammates despite wildly dominant seasons.
In 2019 he missed a nomination for the second straight year and then was an All Australian with 27 Brownlow votes, second only to Nat Fyfe.
An award lacks significant credibility when the second-best player in any given year isn’t even eligible to win.
Andrew Brayshaw will likely win a Brownlow Medal one day but it was hard to argue he was the best player this year.
He finished eighth in the Coaches Award and while it is a player-voted award, the huge numbers of players who freely admit they do not watch much football means the Coaches Award now has greater cache than the player-voted award.
WAS NICK DAICOS UNLUCKY?
Daicos won the Rising Star award and the judges nailed their voting with Daicos securing 60 votes from Sam De Koning (48), Jai Newcombe (35), Jack Ginnivan (21) and Nick Martin (12).
He missed out in the AFL Coaches Association best young player award to Jai Newcombe and wasn’t even in the top three, but it was no clanger.
The award is voted to the best player in their first two seasons of football and is taken from the coaches award votes, so he simply played in a team with too many players taking coaches votes off him.
AFL Awards: Captaincy surprise amid 12 All-Australian debuts
- Lauren Wood
The AFL’s awards bonanza is underway with the All-Australian team, Rising Star and AFLPA MVP set to be named.
Scroll to find out who all the winners are and see the AA team below.
Tomahawk named All-Australian captain
Geelong powerhouse forward Tom Hawkins’ fifth All-Australian blazer was gilded with the team’s captaincy as he was named alongside four teammates and a dozen debutants.
Hawkins, who was first named in the All-Australian team a decade ago, played every game this season and finished with 59 goals.
The Cats star said it was a surprise way to have “captain” next to his name for the first time in his 324-game career.
“I don’t actually think I’ve ever been captain of a football side before,” he laughed.
“To be standing alongside some of the great players of our generation is pretty cool.
“A very cool thing to identify with.”
As the Cats prepare their assault on the finals series as the team to beat, five Geelong players earned selection in the team of the year, with defender Tom Stewart earning a fourth nod, Jeremy Cameron a third and Tyson Stengle and Mark Blicavs selected for the first time.
After a run of injuries in recent years, Hawkins joked that while “I’m not getting younger”, there “might be something in the water down there” at Geelong as older players continue to thrive.
“I attribute a fair bit to the fitness staff and the guys that run our football program … they handle us really well as people and players and read the room really well,” Hawkins said.
“My genetics is a good part of that as well.
“It certainly doesn’t go unrecognised among the playing group.”
Hawkins and wife Emma welcomed their third child, Henry, just six weeks ago but as finals loom, the superstar forward conceded his workload would be increasing once the pointy end of the season was complete.
“As most parents can understand, it’s a real challenge early on,” he said.
“But my wife has been wonderful.
“So far he’s doing a lot of things really well.
“I might have a few nights off in September and hopefully take over a bit more (after that) when I’ve got a bit more time.”
Blues forward and Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow headlined the debutants within the side, which also included teammate Adam Saad, Tiger Shai Bolton, Magpie Brayden Maynard and Swans forward Isaac Heeney.
Curnow’s Blues skipper Patrick Cripps was named as the team’s vice-captain.
Bolton — who earned his first All-Australian blazer — admitted it had been an anxious evening with his heavily pregnant partner Hasina at home.
“She’s overdue at the moment, so a bit nervous,” he said.
With Dustin Martin absent from the Richmond team for the majority of the season due to injury and personal issues, Bolton stepped up and shone – but he is hesitant to declare himself the replacement for the Brownlow medallist.
“I wouldn’t say that,” he laughed.
“Dustin’s a good player — a superstar. Obviously when he’s back I’ll play a bit of mid and a bit forward.
“It’s good to have both of us there and hopefully we get him back next week.”
Reigning premiership captain Max Gawn — whose fellow flag teammates Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver were also recognised — was named as the team’s ruck with Lachie Neale named as rover for his third blazer.
Demons defender Steven May was named at full back with his second consecutive selection.
St Kilda backman Jack Sinclair was the only Saint recognised at the AFL Awards on Wednesday night.
Neale was the only Lion picked in the team with teammate Hugh McCluggage and Charlie Cameron left out after being named in the initial squad, while Tiger Tom Lynch was also left out.
HOW CLOSE DID RALPHY GET? CLICK TO SEE HIS AA TEAM, PREDICTED FROM THE SQUAD OF 44
Brayshaw youngest in nearly two decades to claim players’ top award
Football’s next generation of superstars has been recognised as the top three valued players in the game, as voted by their peers.
Fremantle Docker Andrew Brayshaw on Wednesday night became the youngest winner of the AFL Players’ Association Most Valuable Player Award in almost 20 years, claiming the honour ahead of Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver and high-flying Tiger Shai Bolton.
Brayshaw, 22, was also anointed as skipper of the AFLPA 22Under22 team following a season that saw him inside the competition’s top six for disposals, tackles and uncontested possessions.
The most valuable player in the competition says he was completely shocked by his top gong.
Brayshaw laughed that he had donned the boots of his older brothers and copped plenty of ribbing over the years, but said he was “really happy” to have been recognised in the peer-voted award.
“It’s really humbling,” he said.
“When I got told I had won this award, I was in shock. For my peers to say I’m the most valuable player, it’s an honour. And I’m really happy.”
The Docker is the youngest player to win the award since Nick Riewoldt claimed the honour in 2014.
Brayshaw joked that with three older brothers, “you don’t really get much new stuff” and he had lived in hand-me-down football boots.
Despite walking literally in their shoes, he is carving his own path and said defying his age was not in his thoughts.
“My goal is always to improve,” he said.
“Once you get into the AFL, no one cares how old you are – you’ve just got to get to work.
“Growing up with three older brothers and Clayton Oliver lived with us for a little bit and then I moved into a house with Nat Fyfe and Lachie Neale just to name a few.
“I’ve been really blessed with the people I’ve been brought up around.”
Brayshaw’s older brother Angus — a premiership player at the Demons — was the first to laud the Docker’s stellar 2022 performance, declaring there will be plenty more to come for the young gun.
“I’m incredibly proud of Andrew to be recognised by his peers as the Most Valuable Player in the competition,” Angus said.
“Anyone who has watched him this year would agree that he is a worthy recipient.
“The first of many awards to come over his career I’m sure of it.”
Brisbane Brownlow favourite Lachie Neale and Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron rounded out the award’s top five.
***Premiership Tiger Liam Baker was recognised with the Robert Rose Most Courageous Player award ahead of Magpie Brayden Maynard and Demon Jack Viney, with emerging Collingwood star Nick Daicos — who had also been thrust into contention for the MVP by his own teammates after an incredible debut season that will include finals — anointed as the AFLPA Best First Year Player.
Bomber Nic Martin and Saint Marcus Windhager followed closely behind Daicos, while Magpies skipper Scott Pendlebury joined esteemed company as a two-time winner of the Best Captain Award, ahead of Cat Joel Selwood and reigning premiership skipper Max Gawn.
Pie Father-son’s stunning season franked by Rising star gong
Collingwood weapon Nick Daicos has been unanimously crowned the competition’s Rising Star.
The 19-year-old — who played every home and away game this year — emerged as a virtually unbackable favourite for the award in the second half of the season as he played a pivotal role in the Magpies’ near-flawless run into September.
Every single one of the 12 Rising Star voting panel awarded Daicos the maximum five votes, claiming the nod by 12 votes from Cats defender Sam De Koning.
Hawk Jai Newcombe finished in third place.
Daicos, who is set to feature in at least two finals with the Pies holding a prized double chance, averaged 26 disposals per game this season, which included a 40-possession and three-goal game against Adelaide in Round 18.
‘We trust him already’: JHF’s catch up with Clarko
North Melbourne young gun Jason Horne-Francis has revealed he has already sat down with new coach Alastair Clarkson, with the master coach already plotting a potential position change for the No. 1 draft pick.
Clarkson was appointed to the senior coaching role on Friday and has thrown himself into action with players at Arden Street, Horne-Francis said.
“I actually spoke to him today,” the young Roo said on Fox Footy at the AFL Awards.
“Listening to him talk, he knows what he wants. Just a very clear head.
“I think we trust him already. He’s only been here a couple of days but we already trust him and … what he’s trying to do with the club.”
The South Australian said the coach had flagged a shift.
“He said “you’ve been through a lot already”,” he said.
“He didn’t say much. He mentioned me maybe playing a different position.”
But according to Clarkson, balance will be key as the young star hunts longevity.
“He said to me that he doesn’t want me to try and be in there as much as I can, because that will probably wear me out,” Horne-Francis said.
“He wants me to have a long career and make the most out of it. He’s trying to nurse me through that, which is good.”
The young star who was in and out of the side this year as he reportedly weighed up his future, said his aim was “to play consistent footy”.
“That’s what everyone is trying to strive towards,” he said.
“Getting myself in shape, getting myself fitter so I can set myself up in the long term.”
Clarry and Touk share coaches’ spoils
Melbourne star Clayton Oliver and Gold Coast sensation Touk Miller have both been crowned AFL Coaches Association AFL champion player of the year.
The pair finished the home and away season tied on 98 votes
Oliver polled coaches votes in 17 of the 21 matches while Miller polled in 15 games.
The AFL Coaches Association’s award is voted by the 18 coaching panels on a 5,4,3,2,1 basis after each home and away game, acknowledging outstanding effort by an individual player in a season.
Meanwhile Hawthorn’s Jai Newcombe was crowned the AFL Coaches Association best young player.
The No.2 pick in the 2021 mid-season draft polled 44 votes over the last two seasons finishing ten votes ahead of Sydney Swan’s Errol Gulden who ended with 34 votes. Geelong young defender Sam De Koning finished in third place.
The best young player award is based on performances in his first two seasons and is determined by the weekly votes of the AFL coaches.
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