football
May 22, 2012
By
Richard Jones
Melbourne’s best and fairest
October 23, 2009
By
Steve Healy
Why the top 10 deserved to be the best and so did Liam Jurrah...
TWELVE days had passed since Fremantle had their best and fairest night. The Melbourne football club had left Australia waiting. Red and blue blood flooded Crown Casino, as did a bald, recovering Jim Stynes.
Jim received an almighty applause as he strolled on to the stage and delivered an inspiring speech, and I’m sure that his tumours were the last thing on his mind as he spoke.
The Keith “Bluey” Truscott Trophy count got underway, with a pack of Demons sitting at tables looking on with beloved ones. At the night’s end, Aaron Davey had picked up a well deserved award with 82 votes, adding to his growing trophy cabinet.
I’m going to analyse the top 10, and say why each of them deserved to be Melbourne’s best players’ this season:
1. Aaron Davey
This was no fluke. He was Melbourne’s best player in half the games this season. Davey has lifted his game tremendously since moving into his new role across half back and in the middle. In 2009, he averaged 23 possessions, 16.2 of them kicks (third best in the AFL) and smashing his career high. He had 30 or more touches seven times, and laid 4.1 tackles a game, also a career high. He put the ball inside 50 for the Dees 3.3 times a game, and had 2.3 running bounces per game. The 26-year old speedster has many more good years left in him, I rate him very highly.
2. Brent Moloney
Moloney forgot last year’s injury-ruined season with a fantastic 2009. He averaged 24.3 disposals, including a career-high 37 in round eight, 4.7 marks, 3.7 inside 50s, kicked seven goals, and hit the target 77.3% of the time. He played 21 out of a possible 22 games, and he never put a foot wrong. He’s a true leader; he always lifts the team, whether it’s by kicking a goal on the run or sprinting through the centre and delivering to the likes of Robbo, Jurrah and Bate inside 50. He led the Dees for contested possessions with 157 for the season. Hopefully Moloney can back his work up next year.
3. Cameron Bruce
Bruce, the reigning best and fairest, backed up his awesome 2008 with a strong 2009. He played the first 19 games, and then sustained a wrist injury to end his season. He averaged 25.2 possessions, more than last year, six marks and kicked nine goals. He starred in round 15 against Port Adelaide with 37 possessions. Bruce has always been one of my favourite players because of his ability to win the ball, and he shares the same birthday as me.
4. Matthew Bate
This guy is a story in himself, if you said “Matthew Bate” to me this time last year I would’ve answered “Delist”. But I’ve turned around, I’ve seen this fellow through different eyes and now I understand his worth to the team. Bate had an incredible season now I look back on it. In 20 games he kicked an accurate 27.13, and was only behind Russell Robertson as top goal kicker, but still managed to rack up 16.7 possessions and 5.7 marks a game. He had 19 goal assists, the most of any Melbourne player for the season. His best bag was four against the Bulldogs in round eight, and he also played a ripper against the Dockers in round 20 with 25 possessions and three goals. Late in the season, he was moved more up the ground and he finished the season on a high note averaging 25 disposals in the last four games.
5. (Equal) Nathan Jones
It was in round 22 when the Dees were playing St Kilda, when I said aloud “Hasn’t Nathan Jones had a good season?” I was right, and finishing equal fifth in the Dees’ best and fairest is a great finish. The bald-headed magician averaged 22 possessions and 3.5 marks, and played all but two games. (Both where he was a late withdrawal) He also delivered the ball inside 50 on 3.8 occasions each match, and had 13 goal assists. His courage was a key factor in his season, which was displayed in round 14 when he smashed into David Wirrpanda’s leg.
5. (Equal) Colin Sylvia
Colin Sylvia was a massive part of Melbourne’s season 2009. He came of age, after starting the season in poor fashion. In his first six games, he averaged only 16 possessions and had no real influence. In his last 11, he averaged 26. His round nine performance against Hawthorn was amazing: 37 possessions, nine marks and four goals. It netted him three Brownlow votes as well. He kicked 17 goals for the year, and led the club in inside 50s for the year. I think there’s still better to come.
5. (equal) Matthew Warnock
I was quite surprised to see Warnock so high in the count, but seeing that he did such a good job in defence I’m re-thinking. Two years ago I thought he’d be gone by now. But Bailey has given him a chance and he’s shown his worth. Despite only averaging 11.2 disposals and four marks, he had 97 one-percenters and did good jobs on some of the game’s best big men.
8. James Frawley
Like Warnock, Frawley did well to get in here but he played a strong 2009 as a running centre half back. He averaged 14 possessions and 4.5 marks, and played on players like Lance Franklin and Nick Riewoldt but still managed to contain them to an extent. He kicked his first career goal in round 10. He hit the target with 80.2% of his possessions. Frawley, along with Warnock, Martin and Garland, is making the Melbourne defence a dangerous one.
9. (Equal) Cale Morton
What a gem this guy is, and he’s only 19-years-old and in his second season. The tall midfielder from WA has often been criticised for his kicking, but he put that aside and put in a stellar 2009 season. He averaged 22.7 possessions and seven marks for the year, and he had the second most and most in those two fields respectively. He starred with 36 possessions and 10 marks in round 22, as well as round seven when he had 34 possessions and 16 marks. He’ll only get better (and heavier).
9. (Equal) James McDonald
James McDonald. A true leader. What he does for the club is inspirational. When I met him at the airport this year he didn’t know how many possessions he gets a game. Well I’ll tell him now; he averaged 19.3 possessions, 4.6 marks and five tackles. He only kicked two goals for the year, both in twilight games as it happens. I hope he plays on for longer than Michael Tuck.
Notable mentions to Brad Green, Ricky Petterd, Jack Grimes, Brock McLean and Jared Rivers who I thought were good enough to be in the top 10, oh yeah and that guy named Liam Jurrah. Although he finished 17th, I promised that I would include him. This is for you Liam:
17. Liam Jurrah
Jurrah had an excellent half-season, so good I’m wondering why he didn’t debut earlier. Where do I start? His debut against Essendon, where he kicked that incredible goal from the ground and he kicked two bombs which were actually goals but called touched on the line. Then there were his four goals against Port Adelaide, including that screamer, which won him the rising star nomination. Then there were the games against Fremantle and St Kilda where he kicked a beyond freakish goal in each. I could talk about this legend from Yuendumu for the length of the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Almanacs put together. In nine games, he kicked 20 goals and was never held goalless, not that he plays on anyone anyway. He snagged three bags of four goals, he averaged 12 possessions, two tackles and five marks, and two marks inside 50. I really hope he’s back out there next year playing as well, but I know he’ll be playing better.
Go Dees!
• Aaron Davey in action at the MCG. Photo by Andrew White. The Slattery Media Group
Jim received an almighty applause as he strolled on to the stage and delivered an inspiring speech, and I’m sure that his tumours were the last thing on his mind as he spoke.
The Keith “Bluey” Truscott Trophy count got underway, with a pack of Demons sitting at tables looking on with beloved ones. At the night’s end, Aaron Davey had picked up a well deserved award with 82 votes, adding to his growing trophy cabinet.
I’m going to analyse the top 10, and say why each of them deserved to be Melbourne’s best players’ this season:
1. Aaron Davey
This was no fluke. He was Melbourne’s best player in half the games this season. Davey has lifted his game tremendously since moving into his new role across half back and in the middle. In 2009, he averaged 23 possessions, 16.2 of them kicks (third best in the AFL) and smashing his career high. He had 30 or more touches seven times, and laid 4.1 tackles a game, also a career high. He put the ball inside 50 for the Dees 3.3 times a game, and had 2.3 running bounces per game. The 26-year old speedster has many more good years left in him, I rate him very highly.
2. Brent Moloney
Moloney forgot last year’s injury-ruined season with a fantastic 2009. He averaged 24.3 disposals, including a career-high 37 in round eight, 4.7 marks, 3.7 inside 50s, kicked seven goals, and hit the target 77.3% of the time. He played 21 out of a possible 22 games, and he never put a foot wrong. He’s a true leader; he always lifts the team, whether it’s by kicking a goal on the run or sprinting through the centre and delivering to the likes of Robbo, Jurrah and Bate inside 50. He led the Dees for contested possessions with 157 for the season. Hopefully Moloney can back his work up next year.
3. Cameron Bruce
Bruce, the reigning best and fairest, backed up his awesome 2008 with a strong 2009. He played the first 19 games, and then sustained a wrist injury to end his season. He averaged 25.2 possessions, more than last year, six marks and kicked nine goals. He starred in round 15 against Port Adelaide with 37 possessions. Bruce has always been one of my favourite players because of his ability to win the ball, and he shares the same birthday as me.
4. Matthew Bate
This guy is a story in himself, if you said “Matthew Bate” to me this time last year I would’ve answered “Delist”. But I’ve turned around, I’ve seen this fellow through different eyes and now I understand his worth to the team. Bate had an incredible season now I look back on it. In 20 games he kicked an accurate 27.13, and was only behind Russell Robertson as top goal kicker, but still managed to rack up 16.7 possessions and 5.7 marks a game. He had 19 goal assists, the most of any Melbourne player for the season. His best bag was four against the Bulldogs in round eight, and he also played a ripper against the Dockers in round 20 with 25 possessions and three goals. Late in the season, he was moved more up the ground and he finished the season on a high note averaging 25 disposals in the last four games.
5. (Equal) Nathan Jones
It was in round 22 when the Dees were playing St Kilda, when I said aloud “Hasn’t Nathan Jones had a good season?” I was right, and finishing equal fifth in the Dees’ best and fairest is a great finish. The bald-headed magician averaged 22 possessions and 3.5 marks, and played all but two games. (Both where he was a late withdrawal) He also delivered the ball inside 50 on 3.8 occasions each match, and had 13 goal assists. His courage was a key factor in his season, which was displayed in round 14 when he smashed into David Wirrpanda’s leg.
5. (Equal) Colin Sylvia
Colin Sylvia was a massive part of Melbourne’s season 2009. He came of age, after starting the season in poor fashion. In his first six games, he averaged only 16 possessions and had no real influence. In his last 11, he averaged 26. His round nine performance against Hawthorn was amazing: 37 possessions, nine marks and four goals. It netted him three Brownlow votes as well. He kicked 17 goals for the year, and led the club in inside 50s for the year. I think there’s still better to come.
5. (equal) Matthew Warnock
I was quite surprised to see Warnock so high in the count, but seeing that he did such a good job in defence I’m re-thinking. Two years ago I thought he’d be gone by now. But Bailey has given him a chance and he’s shown his worth. Despite only averaging 11.2 disposals and four marks, he had 97 one-percenters and did good jobs on some of the game’s best big men.
8. James Frawley
Like Warnock, Frawley did well to get in here but he played a strong 2009 as a running centre half back. He averaged 14 possessions and 4.5 marks, and played on players like Lance Franklin and Nick Riewoldt but still managed to contain them to an extent. He kicked his first career goal in round 10. He hit the target with 80.2% of his possessions. Frawley, along with Warnock, Martin and Garland, is making the Melbourne defence a dangerous one.
9. (Equal) Cale Morton
What a gem this guy is, and he’s only 19-years-old and in his second season. The tall midfielder from WA has often been criticised for his kicking, but he put that aside and put in a stellar 2009 season. He averaged 22.7 possessions and seven marks for the year, and he had the second most and most in those two fields respectively. He starred with 36 possessions and 10 marks in round 22, as well as round seven when he had 34 possessions and 16 marks. He’ll only get better (and heavier).
9. (Equal) James McDonald
James McDonald. A true leader. What he does for the club is inspirational. When I met him at the airport this year he didn’t know how many possessions he gets a game. Well I’ll tell him now; he averaged 19.3 possessions, 4.6 marks and five tackles. He only kicked two goals for the year, both in twilight games as it happens. I hope he plays on for longer than Michael Tuck.
Notable mentions to Brad Green, Ricky Petterd, Jack Grimes, Brock McLean and Jared Rivers who I thought were good enough to be in the top 10, oh yeah and that guy named Liam Jurrah. Although he finished 17th, I promised that I would include him. This is for you Liam:
17. Liam Jurrah
Jurrah had an excellent half-season, so good I’m wondering why he didn’t debut earlier. Where do I start? His debut against Essendon, where he kicked that incredible goal from the ground and he kicked two bombs which were actually goals but called touched on the line. Then there were his four goals against Port Adelaide, including that screamer, which won him the rising star nomination. Then there were the games against Fremantle and St Kilda where he kicked a beyond freakish goal in each. I could talk about this legend from Yuendumu for the length of the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Almanacs put together. In nine games, he kicked 20 goals and was never held goalless, not that he plays on anyone anyway. He snagged three bags of four goals, he averaged 12 possessions, two tackles and five marks, and two marks inside 50. I really hope he’s back out there next year playing as well, but I know he’ll be playing better.
Go Dees!
• Aaron Davey in action at the MCG. Photo by Andrew White. The Slattery Media Group
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