At the end of each season, there is the obligatory discussion about who could take “Charlie” home. Footy fans stretch their memories back to games played several months prior in an effort to identify their club’s best chance at winning the coveted award.
This year NMFC.com.au is asking for your help to determine the three best players from each game and you can vote in the Mazda Spirit Awards for your best three Kangaroos.
Running NMFC fan leaderboard
8 – Jarrad Waite
7 – Todd Goldstein
4 – Daniel Wells
3 – Brent Harvey, Ben Cunnington, Jack Ziebell, Nick Dal Santo
1 – Ben Brown, Scott Thompson
With such a tight final margin on the scoreboard, the best on ground call could potentially go to a player from the losing side.
Here is the case for each of the players in the running for the votes, in alphabetical order. We’ll pick our 3-2-1, then you can have your say.
Ben Cunnington – NMFC
At times it appeared Goldstein and Cunnington were playing their own game at stoppages, the ruckman tapping to the midfielder and North was away and running.
Cunnington finished with seven clearances and 26 disposals, 14 of which were contested.
Todd Goldstein – NMFC
Goldstein clearly won the ruck battle against St Kilda’s Tom Hickey, his hit-out edge (35-22 and 10-5 to advantage) allowing North to get first use from the clearances (41-29).
The late, important late free kick and go-ahead behind could also stick in the mind of umpires late.
Ben Jacobs – NMFC
Given the tagging job on Jack Steven, Jacobs performed his task extremely well.
Coming into the match, the Saints’ on-baller had been averaging nearly 29 disposals a game. Jacobs held him to just 15, while also winning some crucial late one-on-one contests.
Leigh Montagna – St Kilda
Montagna’s 34 disposals were clearly the highest on the ground, also gaining the most metres of any player.
Nick Riewoldt – St Kilda
24 disposals, 16 marks and three goals; the Saints’ captain was seemingly everywhere at once during the game.
Whether it was helping out down back, providing a leading option through the middle or kicking goals, Riewoldt did it all.
Jack Ziebell – NMFC
20 of Ziebell’s 28 disposals came in the second half as the game tightened up – his 14 contested disposals for the match was equal with Cunnington for a match-high.
With five inside 50’s and four rebound 50’s, the vice-captain was key to the ball movement at both ends of the ground.
NMFC.com.au’s Brownlow votes
3 – Nick Riewoldt
2 – Todd Goldstein
1 – Ben Cunnington
