Well, he was awarded best first year player and I don't think he's gone backwards. He's probably actually improved a bit, since he seems to have been given more of a roving commission. Although he's yet to have a 3 Brownlow vote game, I tend to think one of those is not far off. But I'm not aware of any of his contemporaries going past him.
In time, one of the key forwards like Ugle-Hagan, McDonald or Thilthorpe might bulk up and go past him? But then again, after another pre-season in the gym, Errol's likely to spend more time as an in and under midfielder, and consequently, rack up the sort of possession numbers that win awards.
While we are in admiration for Errol mode, I still recall him being first in to help Joey Kennedy when he went down, and then first in pulling the opposition players away....
There was a game a few weeks ago when we came from behind. It was Errol who stepped up and said “follow me boys.” And they did. It was some hard in and under stuff in a wing…I turned to my wife who is generously watching games with me, and said “that’s our next captain.” My second favorite thing about this game was Stephen’s stepping up…wife is going “Who’s he? He’s really good!” But my favorite, favorite thing was Ollie Florent. What a genius our coach is - he’s shown bits and pieces and lots of potential for what, four years? And then on Saturday “Bang” - he is the the ridge-didge full blown deal. Wow how fabulous.
There is (kind of) an award for that. The AFLCA makes a award each year for the player who has performed best (judged by the weekly AFLCA votes) over their first two seasons.
It's hard to see how eligible players are going since they only publish a leaderboard of the top twenty or so players and who can be bothered to go through and add up game by game votes. But I had a quick squizz and I suspect Jai Newcombe is in pole position for the 2021/2 crop based on him polling two best (or equal best) on grounds, and picking up minor votes in a couple of other games. Errol has probably polled in as many as ten games across the two seasons (thus far) but generally picking up single votes here and there, apart from his debut when he was awarded 7.
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