With the club B&F dinner happening tonight, who do people think will walk away with the honours this year? I think this year is very hard to predict given most of our more celebrated players were slightly down on form this year and/or missed a handful of games.
While I'm not Lloyd's biggest fan (not that I don't appreciate him, I just don't rate him as an A grader - more a very reliable, consistent B grader), he showed last year that the coaches like what he does when he finished equal second. I reckon his 2018 season showed an improvement on last year and, with others not as consistent, I think he'll win his first Bobby Skilton medal this evening.
The player most likely to push him, and maybe pip him, is Parker. I don't think Parker had his best year but he still played a number of excellent games, was otherwise solid, and had to mix his time more between midfield and the forward line than in years past. I hadn't realised until yesterday (reading his season review on the Swans' website) that he kicked 25 goals. That's a pretty decent return.
I have no doubt that Buddy was our most valuable player, and the one who produced the most brilliant football at times. The fact he missed four games, and had another two or three where injury made it hard for him to contribute, mean he's unlikely to win the BS (if he didn't last year, with a more consistent, and less injury curtailed year, it's hard to see him doing it this year.) He might just scrape into the top five.
Hewett finished 5th last year and his 2018 was just as good, possibly better. Rampe, too, was pretty consistent and didn't miss a game. Nor did Sinclair, who was beaten a few times by better ruckmen but was never disgraced, and even when he was beaten, found ways to contribute.
2018 was Kennedy's lowest finish since he joined the club but I suspect he might finish lower again this year. He had some wonderful games but wasn't able to produce as consistently as in past years, and missing a couple of games (including most of the North game where he was injured early) will hurt him.
Heeney mixed the brilliant with the inconsistent. I think he'll start the season polling very well, will tail away in the second half but probably pick up the pace in the last few games of the year. I think he'll be top 10 but top 5 will be a struggle.
So if I have to predict an order for this evening it would be
1 Lloyd
2 Parker
3 Hewett
4 Sinclair
5 Rampe
6 Franklin
7 Kennedy
8 Heeney
9 McVeigh
10 Cunningham
Most improved: Sinclair
Rising Star: Can't recall if they apply similar rules to the AFL or if it is strictly for a debutant. If the former then Florent, otherwise Ronke.
Players' player: Franklin
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