With the 2018 AFL season over, the focus for North Melbourne shifts to the club’s most prestigious event, the Syd Barker Medal.
While the likes of Ben Brown, Jack Ziebell, Shaun Higgins and Ben Cunnington are sure to feature prominently on the leaderboard as they did in 2017, some new names have emerged in 2018.
Jed Anderson and Trent Dumont through the midfield, Majak Daw in defence and returning tagger Ben Jacobs are among those to have enjoyed outstanding seasons.
With so many consistent players, could there be a surprise on Syd Barker Medal night?
The voting system for the award is as follows.
- Brad Scott votes from 0-10 on each player per round, while the assistant coaches collectively vote from 0-10.
- The maximum any player can poll in a single game is 20, and only their best 20 games of the season, plus finals count towards the final total.
- 10 votes are awarded for a truly exceptional performance. The sliding scale then works down to four for a good game, while two is for a player who has fulfilled his role.
North Media takes a look at those who could be in the mix for top honours on North’s night of nights.
Jed Anderson
Like Daw, Anderson has been able to put together his most consistent season of footy yet.
Anderson’s team-first attitude and attack of the ball would no doubt prove popular with the coaching panel, making him a strong outsider for the award.
Key stats | 19.7 disposals | 5.2 tackles | 4.6 clearances
Ben Brown
Coleman Medal runner-up Ben Brown is a chance for the medal after kicking 61 goals as the focal point of North’s attack.
Brown continues to improve year-on-year, and his performances will no doubt be popular with the coaches.
Key stats | 2.8 goals | 4.5 marks | 67% goal accuracy
Ben Cunnington
2014 winner Ben Cunnington is set to challenge Higgins after putting together a brilliant season of his own, establishing himself as one of the competition’s best inside-midfielders.
Cunnington ranked fourth for contested possessions in the league, and was arguably North’s most consistent performer of the year, which is sure to attract plenty of votes from the coaches.
Key stats | 25.6 disposals | 15.4 contested possessions | 6.6 clearances
Majak Daw
After years of being in and out of the team as a ruck/forward, Daw firmly cemented his position in the best 22 as a defender in 2018.
Daw put in a series of impressive performances, particularly in the back-half of the season, and will come storming home.
Key stats | 2.4 tackles | 2.3 contested marks | 2.9 intercept marks
Trent Dumont
Trent Dumont continues to develop into a crucial cog of the North Melbourne midfield.
One of the hardest workers on and off the field, Dumont’s super finish to the year has thrown him right into the mix.
Key stats | 21.1 disposals | 2.3 redound 50s | 3.8 marks
Todd Goldstein
The winner of the medal in 2015, Goldstein has enjoyed a return to some of his best form in 2018.
Goldstein has battled back from a tough couple of seasons to re-establish himself as one of the best rucks in the competition, and his attitude and form will combine to ensure he receives plenty of votes.
Key stats | 35.6 hit-outs | 14.5 disposals | 0.5 goals
Shaun Higgins
Current medal holder, Shaun Higgins, has improved on his stellar 2017, enjoying a career-best season individually, recognised by selection in the All Australian best 22.
Remarkably, after a career best season in 2017, Higgins’ numbers are up across the board in 2018, suggesting he could be one of the main contenders.
Key stats | 27.4 disposals | 5.9 inside 50s | 5.2 clearances
Ben Jacobs
Despite only playing 13 games for the season, Jacobs is likely to poll highly in the Syd Barker Medal count.
The number five was critical to the Roos’ fantastic start to the season, playing a selfless shutdown role on some of the league’s best players to fantastic effect.
Key stats | 19.1 disposals | 6.8 tackles | 8.8 contested possessions
Robbie Tarrant
Another former winner of the medal (2016), Tarrant has enjoyed another dominant season at the heart of the North defence.
Tarrant is as reliable as they come, playing in all 22 games, and played his role superbly all season.
Key stats | 16.2 disposals | 6.2 marks | 4.6 spoils
Scott Thompson
Another veteran and former winner (2013) who enjoyed somewhat of a renaissance in 2018 was defender Scott Thompson.
Thompson worked brilliantly in tandem with Daw and Tarrant in the North back half, enjoying his finest season in recent years.
Key stats | 15.1 disposals | 5.6 marks | 4.3 spoils
Jack Ziebell
After playing most of his career in the midfield, Ziebell played predominantly as a forward in 2018, and to great effect.
The skipper kicked a career-high 39 goals, and his influence in the forward line had a massive impact on the Roos’ fortunes.
Key stats | 17.1 disposals | 4.7 marks | 1.6 goals
The 2018 Syd Barker Medal will be streamed to NMFC.com.au and to the North Melbourne Facebook page from 7:40pm on Friday night.
