We’re nearly two months removed from the 2023 AFL season and can now look back at what a year it was.
A memorable home and away campaign was followed up by perhaps the best finals series of all time, with Collingwood winning the cup in a thriller over Brisbane.
While plenty of official season awards were handed out in September and October, we’ve created our own SEN AFL Awards which we have taken from other sports and leagues around the world.
From Offensive Player of the Year to Clutch Player of the Year, here are our four nominees for each award and our winner in each category.
Check them out below!
Most Valuable Player (home-and-away season)
NOMINEES:
Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
Nick Daicos (Collingwood)
Toby Greene (GWS)
Winner: Nick Daicos (Collingwood)
All of our nominees had immense seasons, but considering Daicos was the best player in a team that finished on top of the ladder, he gets the nod. If Bontempell, Curnow or Greene were able to lead their teams to a top-four finish (home and away), they would have won given they carried more of a load in their teams.
Most Improved Player
NOMINEES:
Zak Butters (Port Adelaide)
Kieren Briggs (GWS)
Nick Daicos (Collingwood)
Errol Gulden (Sydney)
Winner: Errol Gulden (Sydney)
In other years Butters or Daicos would have won, but Gulden went from being a nice player to equal-fourth in the Brownlow. His trajectory jumped the most out of any of our nominees.
Rookie of the Year
NOMINEES:
Will Ashcroft (Brisbane)
Bailey Humphrey (Gold Coast)
Max Michalanney (Adelaide)
Harry Sheezel (North Melbourne)
Winner: Harry Sheezel (North Melbourne)
It was a two-horse race for much of the year and Will Ashcroft probably had his nose just ahead until Round 19 when he suffered an ACL injury. Harry Sheezel’s overall year is just too hard to ignore and he takes the award.
Offensive Player of the Year
NOMINEES:
Charlie Cameron (Brisbane)
Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
Toby Greene (GWS)
Taylor Walker (Adelaie)
Winner: Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
78 goals in the home and away season on top of an average of eight score involvements, Charlie Curnow was the best player inside 50 across the competition in 2023.
Defensive Player of the Year
NOMINEES:
Darcy Moore (Collingwood)
Sam Taylor (GWS)
Jacob Weitering (Carlton)
Callum Wilkie (St Kilda)
Winner: Sam Taylor (GWS)
While he missed a fair chunk of the season with a hamstring injury, Sam Taylor was simply the best one-on-one defender in the competition when fit. Would have easily been an All-Australian if he didn’t miss from Round 6 to Round 13.
Best Finals Player
NOMINEES:
Keidean Coleman (Brisbane)
Toby Greene (GWS)
Bobby Hill (Collingwood)
Sam Walsh (Carlton)
Winner: Sam Walsh (Carlton)
All of these players had huge finals campaigns, but Sam Walsh was consistently brilliant across three games. A deserved winner over the other players who had their moments but weren’t as influential in all of their matches.
Comeback Player of the Year
NOMINEES:
Oscar Allen (West Coast)
Bobby Hill (Collingwood)
Ben King (Gold Coast)
Rory Sloane (Adelaide)
Winner: Bobby Hill (Collingwood)
After undergoing testicular cancer surgery in June 2022 and playing just 11 games last season, Bobby Hill ended 2023 with a Norm Smith Medal and 33 goals to his name at his new club. A remarkable story.
Clutch Player of the Year
NOMINEES:
Blake Acres (Carlton)
Toby Greene (GWS)
Dan Houston (Port Adelaide)
Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood)
Winner: Blake Acres (Carlton)
All of these players had big moments, but Acres basically won two finals games with individual clutch acts at either end of the ground. A huge first season in Carlton colours for the wingman.
Coach of the Year
NOMINEES:
Ken Hinkley (Port Adelaide)
Adam Kingsley (GWS)
Craig McRae (Collingwood)
Michael Voss (Brisbane)
Winner: Craig McRae (Collingwood)
Adam Kingsley shocked most after taking GWS from nowhere to within one point of a Grand Final, but Craig McRae was able to lead his side to a minor premiership and flag victory. All of his finals wins came by single digits. Some coaching.
Executive of the Year
NOMINEES:
Chris Davies (Port Adelaide)
Andrew Mackie (Geelong)
Jason McCartney (GWS)
Graham Wright (Collingwood)
Winner: Graham Wright (Collingwood)
Based on the 2022 off-season all the way until the 2023 Grand Final, Graham Wright was the best executive. Recruited five premiership players in Tom Mitchell, Bobby Hill, Billy Frampton, Dan McStay and Oleg Markov for very little going the other way.