Harry Himmelberg wins 2023 AFL Mark of the Year

Harry Himmelberg loves to fly high, and he’s been rewarded with a hell of a prize for his ridiculous act on footy’s night of nights.

Himmelberg flies high. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

Harry Himmelberg has done it again.

The high-flying utility for GWS took so many hangers this season, he took out two of the three final nominations for the award, but it was his Round 1 effort against Adelaide in scorching heat that won out over his clutch Gather Round grab against Hawthorn, or Ash Johnson’s classic pack hanger against Port Adelaide.

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On the forward 50, Himmelberg got up on top of the 202cm Reilly O’Brien, and sat for what felt like an eternity before crashing back down to earth under the scorching Western Sydney heat.

Himmelberg got stupidly high. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

It marks the first time Greater Western Sydney have won either the Mark or Goal of the Year.

“That’s one of the great sits ever!”, Cameron Mooney said watching on at the time.

Accepting the award, Himmelberg said he actually preferred his second effort against Hawthorn.

Gee Harry Himmelberg will be dirty if Harry Himmelberg beats him for Mark of the Year. pic.twitter.com/dsOsm8qRF0

— Kyle Pollard (@KylePollard) April 16, 2023

“I don’t really have an opinion, the second one definitely felt better about 15 minutes later,” Himmelberg said, referring to the Giants’ thrilling Gather Round win in Norwood against Hawthorn.

“It was nearly 40 degrees that day (against Adelaide), so I was thinking how buggered I was, I was trying to find someone to hand it off to because I was gassed.”

Himmelberg for his efforts, in addition to the medal, will receive $10,000, a pie warmer, and a year’s supply worth of meat pies, owing to the award’s sponsorship by meat pie manufacturers Four’N Twenty.

It will be little consolation for Himmelberg, whose Giants had their season heartbreakingly ended by the Pies in a preliminary final thriller at the MCG, going down by a solitary point.