MY 2013 predictions shut my colleague and mate Matt Agius right up.
I tipped the first seven in order last year, but other than being reasonably confident on the winner this year, I can’t split the next 15!
In a season of such astonishing highs, and very few lows, it’s no surprise there’s some real competition when it comes to the B&F top 10 this year.
My Brownlow predictions were a fair way off the mark, and the fact I have Chad Wingard only just scraping in to the top 10 this year despite kicking 43 goals has me questioning my judgement.
Buy here goes, my top 10 for this year’s John Cahill Medal.
Read Matt Agius' Top 10 predictions here
My Top 10
1. Robbie Gray“Robbie Gray was the best player in the comp in 2014” – Ken Hinkley.
I have nothing more to add to this.
(Those who know me know I ran out of superlatives for Robbie after Round 10)
2. Travis Boak
Seriously, how lucky are we to have this bloke as our captain? We need a big, team-lifting goal – Boaky steps up. We need to win a key clearance – Boaky steps up. I can’t imagine a better leader for our footy club and the past two years have shown exactly why.
He’s probably had a better year than 2013 and would be a deserved winner of the 2014 John Cahill Medal – leading the team in disposals and booting 19 goals. But I just can’t see him outpolling Robbie, who was just freakishly consistent.
3. Kane Cornes
Like a fine red, Kane just keeps getting better with age (and as a four-time John Cahill Medallist, that’s pretty impressive!). Super consistent all year, winning plenty of the ball himself and very rarely being beaten head-to-head.
He’s a proven vote-getter, but he could quite easily finish anywhere from 3rd to 10th.
4. Matt Lobbe
It seems easy to forget just how good this bloke has been in 2014. So much of his work goes unnoticed, but I doubt very much that it goes unnoticed by the coaches.
Lobbes finished 4th in the AFL for total hitouts (761) and 4th for total tackles (157), and also had 70 clearances – 5th best at the Power. He was at the bottom of a lot of packs and battling as the lone ruck all day in some tough encounters. His outstanding consistency should see him finish in the top 5.
5. Ollie Wines
Ollie is 19. Ollie played like a season 27-year-old this year.
After an excellent first season, he stepped it up again this year. He was 3rd at the club for disposals (609), 3rd for clearances (120), 3rd for contested and 3rd for tackles (124). He did so much tough work in close and hardly had a down game all year. I’d be stunned if he’s not in the top 10 and wouldn’t be surprised to see him as high as second.
6. Jay Schulz
He gets battered every single week against multiple opponents, he’s just had shoulder and knee surgery, but Schulzy just battles EVERY, SINGLE week.
Schulz kicked a career-high 66 goals and was held goal-less just once this year – against Sydney in Round 20 when he uncharacteristically kicked three behinds. He lives by Kenny’s mantra of showing up every week and he had some outstanding games – booting six goals or more on four occasions this year. His 8 goal, 14 mark effort against the Dogs in Round 14 was sublime.
7. Justin Westhoff
Played slightly higher up the ground this year and while his goal output was down, his marking and disposals were well up. He was so versatile and every coach in the league would love to have a Westy to stem the flow down back, take marks on the wing, do some ruck pinch-hitting and kick freakish goals up forward.
466 disposals, 182 marks (2nd in AFL) and 29 goals are solid stats in another very good year for the Hoff.
8. Brad Ebert
Like Boaky, how lucky are we to have this bloke at our footy club as a leader? Everyone talks about how good a bloke he is, but working with him and seeing the standard he and Boaky set is something else.
He had a better year than 2013, but like Westy, could fall down a few spots on his fourth place finish because of the depth of quality we had this year. A 40 possession game in a losing side against Sydney in Round 13 was a highlight.
9. Hamish Hartlett
I struggled to place Hamish this year. I initially had him as high as fourth, but reconsidered having looked at some other’s outstanding years. He improved on his 2013 form, lifting his consistency to another level, with some sensational performances along the way (Round 2 Showdown Medal, career high 36 disposals in Round 12 and 23 touches and 4 goals in Round 19). But missing three games will hurt him in a very competitive field.
10. Tom Jonas/Chad Wingard
Like Agius, I cheated with 10th place, awarding it to two players.
I have no idea how I have Chad in 10th place. I’m certain he’ll finish higher, but can’t figure out who drops down. He booted exactly the same number of goals in 2014 (43), but had fewer possessions, clearances and inside 50s. His tackles were up, evidence of his improved defensive pressure. If I hadn’t already written this list (and want to get home for dinner), I’d have him close to the top 5…
Tom Jonas shouldn’t be the only defender in the top 10. But Carlile and Trengove’s missed games through injury could hurt their votes. Jack Hombsch is another who had a freakishly good year and I note my colleague has him finishing in fourth spot. While I don’t agree with him on much, I think he’s not silly in this instance.
Back to Tommy, what a year. Originally a rookie-listed player, he has worked his backside off to get where he is today. He may not have the most conventional kick, but boy is it effective (and on both sides). He may be slightly undersized for a key back, but gee he competes well. He may be a Norwood product, but does he ever play like a good, old-fashioned Port player.
The next best (in no particular order): Matthew Broadbent, Alipate Carlile, Jackson Trengove, Jasper Pittard, Matt White, Jack Hombsch, Jared Polec
Predictions for other awards
Fos Williams Medal - Best Team Man as voted by his teammatesTom Jonas – I reckon this could go to Brad or Boaky, but Tommy Jonas has proved his leadership, courage, selflessness and professionalism in 2014.
Gavin Wanganeen Medal – best player under 21 (age in January 2014)
Jack Hombsch – has had a brilliant year playing 24 of 25 games and would be a worthy winner following Wines and Wingard in the previous two seasons.
Coaches Award - improved significantly in the current year from the previous year
Matt Lobbe – took his game to another level in 2014, but could face competition from Hombsch and Robbie Gray.
John McCarthy Award – community service outside the club
Travis Boak – I had the pleasure of interviewing Anna Boynton from the Childhood Cancer Association about the work Boaky does down there. The way she spoke about him made me proud that he’s our captain. He doesn’t do it for the limelight, he does it because he genuinely cares and wants to help. Beyond just this work, Trav represents our club incredibly well in every situation – would be a worthy winner.
Previous Port Adelaide AFL award winners
| Year | John Cahill Medal | B+F 2nd | B+F 3rd | Fos Williams Medal | Gavin Wanganeen Medal | Coaches' Award | John McCarthy Award |
| 2013 | Chad Wingard | Travis Boak | Kane Cornes | Travis Boak | Ollie Wines | Justin Westhoff | Jack Hombsch |
| 2012 | Kane Cornes | Brad Ebert and Matt Broadbent | Brad Ebert | Chad Wingard | Tom Jonas | ||
| 2011 | Travis Boak and Jackson Trengove | Tom Logan | Dom Cassisi | Hamish Hartlett | Tom Logan* | ||
| 2010 | Kane Cornes | Troy Chaplin | Alipate Carlile | Dom Cassisi | Jackson Trengove | Paul Stewart | |
| 2009 | Warren Tredrea | Kane Cornes | Troy Chaplin | Dom Cassisi | Travis Boak | Robbie Gray | |
| 2008 | Kane Cornes | Dom Cassisi | Daniel Motlop | Dom Cassisi | Alipate Carlile | Travis Boak | |
| 2007 | Kane Cornes | Chad Cornes | Peter Burgoyne | Troy Chaplin | Justin Westhoff | David Rodan | |
| 2006 | Brendon Lade | Shaun Burgoyne | Kane Cornes | Brendon Lade | Danyle Pearce | Shaun Burgoyne | |
| 2005 | Warren Tredrea | Kane Cornes | Dom Cassisi | Darryl Wakelin | Dom Cassisi | ||
| 2004 | Warren Tredrea | Kane Cornes | Michael Wilson | Michael Wilson | Kane Cornes | ||
| 2003 | Gavin Wanganeen | Warren Tredrea | Peter Burgoyne | Josh Carr | Dean Brogan | ||
| 2002 | Matthew Prinus | Warren Tredrea | Chad Cornes/Josh Francou | Josh Carr | Chad Cornes | ||
| 2001 | Warren Tredrea | Josh Carr | Nick Stevens | Matthew Primus | Josh Carr | ||
| 2000 | Brett Montgomery | Nick Stevens | Fabian Francis | Matthew Primus | Roger James | ||
| 1999 | Stephen Paxman | Warren Tredrea | Adam Kingsley | Josh Francou | Warren Tredrea | ||
| 1998 | Adam Kingsley | Donald Dickie | Darren Mead | Brayden Lyle | Warren Tredrea | ||
| 1997 | Darren Mead | Matthew Primus | Michael Wilson | Brayden Lyle |
