I really, really struggled to produce my Top 10 for the John Cahill Medal – which probably shows how good our season has been.
I’m confident with my top three, but not confident they’ll finish in that order. From fourth to tenth, it could go any number of ways!
So, here goes, my top 10 for this year’s John Cahill Medal (if you don’t like it, please direct all hate-mail to Matt Agius, it was his idea):
1. Chad Wingard
Man-crush is bandied about a fair bit these days. But I’ve got one on Chad. He’s a gun, a dead-set gun and he’s come so far in 2013 that I actually thought he had a quiet game in the Elimination Final against the Pies - despite the fact he had 19 touches and three goals! He’s been super-consistent – being held goalless just twice – and has won several games off his own boot (hello Showdown XXXV). He booted 43 goals for the year, and averaged 21 possessions per game, which I think will see him JUST pipping Boaky to be named our youngest ever John Cahill Medallist.
2. Travis Boak
What a season. His first as skipper, Boaky does as any great leader does, and stands up when we need him most. He has a knack of kicking key goals and winning key clearances and it would surprise me at all if he won his second ‘Jack’. But I reckon a few quiet games scattered throughout the season could hurt him.
3. Kane Cornes
Mr Consistent knows how to poll a vote in a Port Best & Fairest. He’s been in the top three in eight of the past nine John Cahill Medal counts. I think he’ll make it nine out of 10 on Saturday night. His numbers have been superb (27 touches per game) and he’s done plenty of jobs on key opposition midfielders. Don’t think he’s been quite good enough to win it, but there won’t be too many games he won’t poll votes in.
4. Brad Ebert
I struggled to place Brad. I reckon he could finish anywhere from 4th to 12th, but the back half of his season has been brilliant. He spent a fair bit of time down back to in the early stages of 2013, but his move into the midfield – switching with Matt Broadbent - sparked life back into our season after we’d lost five in a row. Scary to think he’s 23 years old and has already played 122 games. It’s all upside with Brad.
5. Justin Westhoff
The ‘Hoff’ will be leading the Brownlow after four rounds. He’ll also be leading our B&F after four rounds. But I don’t think he’ll be able to hold that momentum all year. He booted 31 goals for the season, which is pretty darn good considering he gets called on to be a ruckman and defender at various times. Perhaps a smokey to go much, much higher.
6. Angus Monfries
Gus had an outstanding year. He kicked more goals in a season than ever before and had more disposals in a season than ever before. He runs so hard off the ball to create space and make an option, something which isn’t always noticed. Fairly confident he’ll poll some votes in Round 20 against the Cats when he booted a lazy seven goals!
7. Jay Schulz
The warrior played every single game in 2013 – something he’s never done before. He booted 49 goals and battled manfully up forward, being outnumbered on many occasions, but always creating a contest. Did his job nearly every week and led incredibly well.
8. Hamish Hartlett
Hammer’s best season in Port Adelaide colours. He was always looked dangerous and was quite consistent. He may not get 30 touches every week, but his damaging right boot was used as a real weapon this year. If he can produce his best every week in 2014, watch out!
9. Alipate Carlile
I can’t remember too many occasions when Bobby was beaten in 2013. He won’t poll well in the Brownlow, and rarely gets mentioned in the best in the media, but don’t be surprised if Bobby polls very well in the Cahill Medal - the coaches notice his job every week.
10. Tom Jonas/Cam O’Shea
Do you remember what you thought about Cam O’Shea in 2012? Most people had written him off, bizarre, given he’s 197cm, runs like Kane Cornes and was just 20 years old. Cam has proven the doubters wrong. So much so that he’s now one of our most reliable players every week. If I had a dollar for every time O’Shea got to a contest he had no right to get to, I’d be a rich man.
'TJ' has quickly become a fan favourite for his hard-nosed approach. He was promoted to the senior list at the end of 2012 following a strong finish to the year and he’s now one of the first names put on the team sheet every single week. His ability to play tall and small has made him a real asset to the Power’s defence.
Best of the rest: Matthew Broadbent, Ollie Wines, Matt Lobbe, Robbie Gray
The fact I don’t think these four blokes will make the top 10 of our Best & Fairest says something about our year and our depth. All four had good years, especially Ollie Wines for a first year player, but there were so many good performers for the Power in 2013, I just don’t think they’ll quite crack the top 10.
If we did give out an award for ‘Best second half of a season’, I think Matty Lobbe would win it. He averaged 34 hitouts and 6.5 tackles per week after the bye – numbers which are comparable to the best ruckmen in the league.
For the record, if we also gave out an award for ‘Best Prince Harry lookalike’, I think he’d win that, too...
I’m confident with my top three, but not confident they’ll finish in that order. From fourth to tenth, it could go any number of ways!
So, here goes, my top 10 for this year’s John Cahill Medal (if you don’t like it, please direct all hate-mail to Matt Agius, it was his idea):
1. Chad Wingard
Man-crush is bandied about a fair bit these days. But I’ve got one on Chad. He’s a gun, a dead-set gun and he’s come so far in 2013 that I actually thought he had a quiet game in the Elimination Final against the Pies - despite the fact he had 19 touches and three goals! He’s been super-consistent – being held goalless just twice – and has won several games off his own boot (hello Showdown XXXV). He booted 43 goals for the year, and averaged 21 possessions per game, which I think will see him JUST pipping Boaky to be named our youngest ever John Cahill Medallist.
2. Travis Boak
What a season. His first as skipper, Boaky does as any great leader does, and stands up when we need him most. He has a knack of kicking key goals and winning key clearances and it would surprise me at all if he won his second ‘Jack’. But I reckon a few quiet games scattered throughout the season could hurt him.
3. Kane Cornes
Mr Consistent knows how to poll a vote in a Port Best & Fairest. He’s been in the top three in eight of the past nine John Cahill Medal counts. I think he’ll make it nine out of 10 on Saturday night. His numbers have been superb (27 touches per game) and he’s done plenty of jobs on key opposition midfielders. Don’t think he’s been quite good enough to win it, but there won’t be too many games he won’t poll votes in.
4. Brad Ebert
I struggled to place Brad. I reckon he could finish anywhere from 4th to 12th, but the back half of his season has been brilliant. He spent a fair bit of time down back to in the early stages of 2013, but his move into the midfield – switching with Matt Broadbent - sparked life back into our season after we’d lost five in a row. Scary to think he’s 23 years old and has already played 122 games. It’s all upside with Brad.
5. Justin Westhoff
The ‘Hoff’ will be leading the Brownlow after four rounds. He’ll also be leading our B&F after four rounds. But I don’t think he’ll be able to hold that momentum all year. He booted 31 goals for the season, which is pretty darn good considering he gets called on to be a ruckman and defender at various times. Perhaps a smokey to go much, much higher.
6. Angus Monfries
Gus had an outstanding year. He kicked more goals in a season than ever before and had more disposals in a season than ever before. He runs so hard off the ball to create space and make an option, something which isn’t always noticed. Fairly confident he’ll poll some votes in Round 20 against the Cats when he booted a lazy seven goals!
7. Jay Schulz
The warrior played every single game in 2013 – something he’s never done before. He booted 49 goals and battled manfully up forward, being outnumbered on many occasions, but always creating a contest. Did his job nearly every week and led incredibly well.
8. Hamish Hartlett
Hammer’s best season in Port Adelaide colours. He was always looked dangerous and was quite consistent. He may not get 30 touches every week, but his damaging right boot was used as a real weapon this year. If he can produce his best every week in 2014, watch out!
9. Alipate Carlile
I can’t remember too many occasions when Bobby was beaten in 2013. He won’t poll well in the Brownlow, and rarely gets mentioned in the best in the media, but don’t be surprised if Bobby polls very well in the Cahill Medal - the coaches notice his job every week.
10. Tom Jonas/Cam O’Shea
Do you remember what you thought about Cam O’Shea in 2012? Most people had written him off, bizarre, given he’s 197cm, runs like Kane Cornes and was just 20 years old. Cam has proven the doubters wrong. So much so that he’s now one of our most reliable players every week. If I had a dollar for every time O’Shea got to a contest he had no right to get to, I’d be a rich man.
'TJ' has quickly become a fan favourite for his hard-nosed approach. He was promoted to the senior list at the end of 2012 following a strong finish to the year and he’s now one of the first names put on the team sheet every single week. His ability to play tall and small has made him a real asset to the Power’s defence.
Best of the rest: Matthew Broadbent, Ollie Wines, Matt Lobbe, Robbie Gray
The fact I don’t think these four blokes will make the top 10 of our Best & Fairest says something about our year and our depth. All four had good years, especially Ollie Wines for a first year player, but there were so many good performers for the Power in 2013, I just don’t think they’ll quite crack the top 10.
If we did give out an award for ‘Best second half of a season’, I think Matty Lobbe would win it. He averaged 34 hitouts and 6.5 tackles per week after the bye – numbers which are comparable to the best ruckmen in the league.
For the record, if we also gave out an award for ‘Best Prince Harry lookalike’, I think he’d win that, too...
