Two best photos of the AFL season are absolute crackers

The two most gripping images of the 2020 AFL season have officially been announced — and they’re a couple of crackers.

The AFL season started in seriously weird fashion.

It’s official: These are the two best footy photos of the year.

The Australian Football Media Association (AFMA) announced the winners of its annual awards presentation and a couple of cracking snaps took top prize.

The gong for Best Action Photo went to Quinn Rooney of Getty Images for a picture of Geelong star Mark Blicavs and his handball during the Cats’ qualifying final against Collingwood.

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Quinn Rooney caught Mark Blicavs in full flight.

The Herald Sun’s Michael Klein came out on top in the other category of Best News or Feature Photo.

As COVID-19 caused chaos and forced the league to plan a season like no other, Klein’s snap of an MCG devoid of fans impressed the judges.

He captured the first bounce of the opening match of the season between Richmond and Carlton — a scene we’re unlikely to see ever again.

Michael Klein captured an eerie scene complete with empty stands.

In other awards, The Sunday Times’ Glen Quartermain was crowned Best News Reporter for his exclusive story that revealed Geelong champion Graham “Polly” Farmer was the first professional AFL player to be diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) — a brain injury caused by repetitive trauma to the head.

The ABC’s Russell Jackson won Best Feature Writer for his long-form work on ex-St Kilda star Robert Muir and the persecution and racism that dogged his football career.

Jake Niall of The Age won the award for Best Opinion and Analysis and Lauren Wood of the Herald Sun was top of the tree when it came to Best AFLW Reporting.