Australia’s top 20 sport stars from 2015: Jason Day, Michelle Payne, Steve Smith feature in Jon Anderson’s list

AUSTRALIANS have long punched above their weight on the world sporting stage and there was more of the same in 2015. TOP 20 AUSSIE SPORT STARS OF 2015

RBC Canadian Open - Final Round

AUSTRALIANS have long punched above their weight on the world sporting stage and there was more of the same in 2015 — as well as stunning efforts at home — to give Jon Anderson a huge challenge compiling the 20 best Aussie sports performers

1. JASON DAY (golf)

Only Jordan Spieth could prevent Day from ending the year No. 1, despite one of the greatest seasons by an Australian — his first major at the US PGA Championship and four other PGA wins. Only Day, Tiger Woods and Vijah Singh have won five times in one season in the past 20 years. Day’s 20-under total in the PGA was a record in a major, previously held by Woods.

Jason Day celebrates with the winner's trophy after the final round of the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in July. Picture: Getty

2. JOHNATHAN THURSTON (rugby league)

Probably the most complete season by any player in rugby league history — man of the match in the series-deciding State of Origin game and in North Queensland’s NRL grand final win; Dally M winner by a record 11 votes as the NRL player of the year; and World Player of the Year for the third time.

Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston celebrates with the premiership trophy after winning the 2015 NRL grand final. Picture: getty

3. MICHELLE PAYNE (racing)

Yes, she only won one big race, but what a race. And what ride on outsider Prince of Penzance. She left the great Frankie Dettori lamenting what might have been on Max Dynamite. Payne declared: “I want to say to everyone else, get stuffed, because women can do anything and we can beat the world.” Good on her.

Michelle Payne takes a moment after winning the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Colleen Petch

4. EMILY SEEBOHM (swimming)

Completed an extraordinary year by winning 17 of 22 backstroke races over 50, 100 and200m at the FINA World Cup. That came after Seebohm completed the 100-200m double at the World Championships in Russia and more gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay.

Emily Seebohm after winning the women's 200m backstroke final at the 2015 Australian Swimming Championships. Picture: Gregg Porteous

5. BRONTE CAMPBELL (swimming)

Campbell finally out-shone her older sister Cate, winning the 50m freestyle world title and becoming only the third woman to complete the 50-100m sprint double in an epic finish that truly stamped her as the world’s best sprinter.

Bronte Campbell celebrates her gold medal win in the women's 100m freestyle final at the FINA World Championships. Picture: Getty

6. STEVE SMITH (cricket)

In the year during which he inherited the captaincy, Smith made morer Test runs than anyone in the world — 1474 (six tons) at an average of 73.70. In the one-day format he scored 805 runs at 53.66 with two centuries.

Steve Smith celebrates another Test century. Picture: Getty

7. MARK WEBBER (car racing)

Despite his magnificent F1 achievements, Webber was regarded by some as an under-achiever. So the world title in the World Endurance Championship in a Porsche was sweet for the boy from Queanbeyan.

Mark Webber suits up. Picture: Getty

8. MICK FANNING (surfing)

He did not win the 2015 World Championship, but sometimes greatness is measured by an ability to overcome adversity — in Fanning’s case a shark attack, then the death of his eldest brother. Fanning was still in the hunt for the title at semi-final stage of the season-ender.

Mick Fanning surfs during the Pipeline Masters. Picture: AFP

9. DAVID POCOCK (rugby union)

Australia’s Super Rugby player of the year following a season in which he completed 96 per cent of tackles and scored eight tries for the Brumbies. He was a key to Australia’s reaching the World Cup final and runner-up to Dan Carter as the world’s best player.

David Pocock in action. Picture: Getty

10. NAT FYFE (AFL)

By Round 14 in the Brownlow Medal, Fremantle’s Fyfe had polled 29 of a possible 39 votes, including nine best-on-grounds. He added to his brilliant year the most memorably humorous and humble acceptance speech.

Nat Fyfe capped off a stellar year with the Brownlow Medal. Picture: Colleen Petch

11. CAITLIN BASSETT (netball)

Not only found a way through the formidable Silver Ferns defence but shot a record 47 goals from 50 attempts in the World Cup final, maintaining her remarkable 90 per cent shooting accuracy.

Caitlin Bassett in action for Australia during the Netball World Cup. Picture: Mark Evans

12. ANDREW BOGUT (basketball)

Gets a bum rap because he largely sat on the bench for Golden State in its NBA championship win over Cleveland, but Bogut’s defensive work during the regular season earned him selection in the NBA All-defensive Second Team.

Andrew Bogut was one of the NBA’s best defenders during the 2014/2015 season. Picture: Getty

13. MATT RYAN (soccer)

The 23-year-old from Sydney was named the Asian Cup’s best goalkeeper in Australia’s winning campaign. Mid-season he signed a six-year deal with La Liga powerhouse Valencia before ending 2015 by being named Australia’s Professional Player of the Year.

Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan starred during the Asian Cup. Picture: Getty

14. KIM CROW (rowing)

After booking a place at the Rio Olympics, Kim Crow reclaimed her women’s single sculls world title on the final day of the world championships in France. She also won the title in 2013.

Kim Crow will represent Australia at the Rio Olympics. Picture: AFP

15. ROHAN DENNIS (cycling)

The 25-year-old won the Tour Down Under before becoming the first Aussie to break the UCI Hour record with 52.491km at the Velodrome Suisse in Grenchen, Switzerland. Then he won the Tour de France stage one time-trial — the fastest in the event’s history — before adding the USA Pro Challenge.

Rohan Dennis. Picture: Matt Turner

16. MARK WINTERBOTTOM (motor racing)

“Frosty” finally won the V8 Supercar Championship he so richly deserved. Driving a Ford, Winterbottom won all four V8 Supercars Challenge races at the Australian Grand Prix and eight races in the middle of the championship year.

Mark Winterbottom won the V8 Supercar championship. Picture: Tim Hunter

17. DAVID WARNER (cricket)

Hard to separate Warner and Smith in Test and one-day cricket. Warner had a quiet Boxing Day Test, finishing the year with 1317 runs, including four centuries, the fourth highest in the world. In the one-dayers he smacked 652 runs at 54.22 with two tons.

David Warner had another brilliant year with the bat for Australia. Picture: AP

18. ANNETTE EDMONDSON (cycling)

Edmondson is equally at home on the track and the road. The 24-year-old from Adelaide won gold medals in the omnium and team pursuit at the 2015 Track World Championships in France.

Annette Edmondson won gold twice in 2015.

19. LAURA GEITZ (netball)

Gets the nod ahead of Diamonds teammates Sharni Layton and Natalie Medhurst, mainly because of her involvement as captain for the Queensland Firebirds in the final quarter of their ANZ Championship win, and for her game-defining defence in the World Cup final.

Laura Geitz starred in the ANZ Championships and for Australia in the Netball World Cup final. Picture: Phil Hillyard

20. MITCH LARKIN (swimming)

The 22-year-old Queenslander won the 100-200m backstroke double at the World Championships in Kazan, Russia. He dominated the same events at the last three meetings of the 2015 FINA World Cup.

Mitch Larkin celebrates winning the mens 100m backstroke final at the 2015 Australian Swimming Championships. Picture: Gregg Porteous