MVP BigFooty WCE Player of the Year 2013 - The Countdown (now into the top 3!)

[Miguel Sanchez]

Here it is folks, the moment you've all been waiting for, the revelation of the champion West Coast Player of 2013 as voted by you, the passionate, knowledgeable and irascible inhabitants of this board ... is probably still about a week away as we count down the results.

For the newbies who have signed up this week to find out if we're likely to trade Ash Smith for Chris Yarran, this is how it works:
- Each round, posters cast their votes for the best-performed 5 Eagles players - 5 votes for the best, 4 votes for the second best and so on.
-Then, while the posters proceeded to engage in the traditional debate about whether Priddis should start in the middle in the Team of the Century or be immediately banished to the Subiaco reserves, those votes were fed into an incredibly complex scoring system to ensure that each game is weighted equally (and that my Year 9 class in Microsoft Excel wasn't a complete waste of time).
- At the end of the season (now!) the weighted votes are tallied, and the results are revealed in a spectacular gala event! Which you can't see, because this is just an internet forum. But trust me, it makes the Brownlow look like the Dally M.

Enough waffle, on to the countdown!

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Final results:

1. Josh Kennedy
2. Eric MacKenzie
3. Chris Masten
4. Darren Glass
5. Luke Shuey
6. Jack Darling
7. Matt Priddis
8. Sharrod Wellingham
9. Andrew Gaff
10. Scott Selwood
11. Dean Cox
12. Shannon Hurn
13. Nic Naitanui
14. Josh Hill
15. Mark LeCras
16. Mitch Brown
17. Daniel Kerr
18. Bradd Dalziell
19. Mark Hutchings
20. Matt Rosa
21. Will Schofield
22. Sam Butler
23. Simon Tunbridge
24. Blayne Wilson
25. Scott Lycett
26. Beau Waters
27. Ashley Smith
28. Brad Sheppard
29. Adam Carter
30. Andrew Embley
31. Adam Selwood
32. Jamie Cripps
33. Patrick McGinnity
34. Callum Sinclair
35. Cale Morton
36. Ashton Hams
37. Jacob Brennan

Did not play a game: Jamie Bennell, Brant Colledge, Brad Dick, Jeremy McGovern, Fraser McInnes, Murray Newman, Mark Nicoski

And the detailed results for those of you with good eyesight:

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

On The Sidelines​

For various reasons these 7 players didn’t take the field this season.

Jamie Bennell​

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The former Melbourne Demon returned from a knee reconstruction to perform solidly in Swan Districts’ backline. Was promoted to the senior list mid-year but didn’t get a West Coast debut, though he may get one in 2014 after receiving a senior contract.

Brant Colledge​

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West Coast’s first pick in last year’s draft managed just two league games and a handful of reserves games at Perth due to injury.

Brad Dick​

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The ex-Magpie spent another season at East Fremantle marred by injuries, and despite the occasional eye-catching game (8 goals against the Falcons!) he again couldn’t crack it for a debut. Dick announced his retirement after the final game.

Jeremy McGovern​

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Had a limited season due to injury, the main highlight being a Foxtel Cup game where he showed his promise with 11 marks and 3 goals. It was enough for him to be promoted to the senior list for 2014.

Fraser McInnes​

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The key position prospect had another solid season at Perth, and travelled to Melbourne as an emergency late in the year but still didn’t get a debut.

Murray Newman​

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Had the season from hell, starting off by getting beaten by the coach in a 2km run and finishing up on indefinite leave after storming out of a WAFL game at quarter-time. Clearly struggled with the GBH charges still hanging over his head and his future is up in the air.

Mark Nicoski​

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Missed a second straight season due to injury, first the hangover from last year’s hamstring injury and then a wrist injury suffered while playing for Subiaco. After 112 games in 10 seasons on West Coast’s list, Nicoski hung up the boots in August.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

37th. Jacob Brennan​

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Games: 10
Goals: 0

Last year’s Rookie of the Year didn’t quite match his 2012 efforts, going in and out of the side throughout the year and failing to gain a vote in any of the 10 games he played, the only senior player not to get a vote at any stage. Despite that, the father-son product did some useful jobs in defence and added some much-needed pace in the back half.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

36th. Ashton Hams​

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Games: 8
Goals: 8
Votes: 2
Weighted average: 0.04
Best match: Rd 3 vs Melbourne – 0.04
The pint-sized utility had a poor season, managing just 8 games after being a fixture in the forward line for most of last year. Hams played the first 5 games, gaining his only votes of the year for a 3-goal effort against the Demons, before being dropped. He played just 3 more games after that, being called up to replace an injured Mark LeCras on each occasion.

 

[larrikin]

And we're off...

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

35th. Cale Morton​

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Games: 3
Goals: 1
Votes: 4
Weighted average: 0.17
Best match: Rd 17 vs Sydney – 0.17

The low-cost recruit from Melbourne spent most of the year with a new WAFL club (East Perth) learning to play a new position (rebounding half-back). Morton made his Eagles debut in a derby, starting as the sub and being introduced to the action in the third quarter. He wore the green jacket in the next two games as well, gaining a few votes for a cameo against Sydney where he got 16 touches and a goal in a half of footy, before being sent back to the Royals.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

34th. Callum Sinclair​

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Games: 5
Goals: 3
Votes: 16
Weighted average: 0.44
Best match: Rd 5 vs Port Adelaide – 0.15

The mature-aged rookie-listed ruckman was promoted to the senior list and given a debut in just the second week of the season. Sinclair immediately impressed with his aggression around the ground, and received handfuls of votes in his first four games. In his fifth game, he was subbed off for the returning Nic Naitanui and that was the last we saw of him at AFL level for the year. Knee injuries limited him to just four more games for Subiaco for the remainder of the season.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

33rd. Patrick McGinnity​

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Games: 7
Goals: 1
Votes: 15
Weighted average: 0.45
Best match: Rd 15 vs Adelaide – 0.32

Everyone’s favourite scrapper was hit by injury early in the year and didn’t make the league side until after the bye. His best game came in the come-from-behind win over Adelaide, but he was suspended for three weeks for a sling tackle that left Bernie Vince dazed.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

32nd. Jamie Cripps​

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Games: 15
Goals: 12
Votes: 24
Weighted average: 1.03
Best match: Rd 1 vs Fremantle – 0.42


The St Kilda recruit caught the eye early on, kicking 2 goals in his West Coast debut. He played the majority of the season in the seniors, generally as a defensive forward with occasional stints in the midfield, but only rarely featured in the votes.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

31st. Adam Selwood

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Games: 8
Goals: 0
Votes: 26
Weighted average: 1.05
Best match: Rd 1 vs Fremantle – 0.92

The season started well for the older Selwood brother, shutting down Hayden Ballantyne. He played seven games in the first half of the season, memorably winning a last minute free kick against North Melbourne and pumping the ball into the forward line to allow Naitanui to perform his game-winning heroics. A back injury and poor form kept him to just one more AFL game for the year, and he announced his retirement in August after 186 games and a premiership medal.

 

[jod23]

I remember I created this award and ran it for the first 5 or 6 seasons. Good times.

 

[pantskyle]

How did Adam Selwood beat my boy Cripps?

**** you all.

 

[twce13]

How did Adam Selwood beat my boy Cripps?

**** you all.

he had 24 votes potentially you alone could have given him 110.

jus' saying.

 

[pantskyle]

he had 24 votes potentially you alone could have given him 110.

jus' saying.

Yeah but I didn't vote once and hoped you guys would do it for me. Never again will I trust you people.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

he had 24 votes potentially you alone could have given him 110.

jus' saying.

If he'd given Cripps 5 votes in games he didn't play in, I probably would have smelled a rat.

 

[twce13]

If he'd given Cripps 5 votes in games he didn't play in, I probably would have smelled a rat.

Good point

regardless..
#badsponsor#jamiesdeservesbetter

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

30th. Andrew Embley​

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Games: 11
Goals: 7
Votes: 37
Weighted average: 1.19
Best match: Rd 16 vs Fremantle – 0.77

The former Norm Smith medallist started to show his age in 2013, and wasn’t helped by a foot injury and a couple of suspensions. His best effort came in the second derby, picking up 23 possessions and 8 tackles, but he was rubbed out for a couple of weeks after running through Clancee Pearce. Embley announced his retirement in advance of the final round, which was his 250th game.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

29th. Adam Carter​

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Games: 5
Goals: 0
Votes: 36
Weighted average: 1.23
Best match: Rd 16 vs Fremantle – 0.69

A late pick in last year’s national draft, Carter was expected to be a long-term project and started the year in South Fremantle’s reserves but by July his form was good enough to warrant a debut. He showed a bit as a small defender and held his own every time he was picked, but still finished the year in the WAFL.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

28th. Brad Sheppard​

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Games: 13
Goals: 3
Votes: 49
Weighted average: 1.41
Best match: Rd 2 vs Hawthorn – 0.55

The highly-rated but inconsistent utility had another up and down season, with injury and indifferent form limiting him to just 13 games. Injured his shoulder in what was his best performance, the round 2 loss to Hawthorn, which caused him to miss a few weeks. Later overcame an incredibly cheap shot by Adelaide’s Shaun McKernan to play out the game, only to do a hammy in training the following week. Needs a big 2014.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

27th. Ashley Smith​

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Games: 12
Goals: 1
Votes: 22
Weighted average: 1.55
Best match: Rd 23 vs Adelaide – 1.18
The laconic defender was dropped after round 1 but worked his way back into the side later in the year, playing nine of the last ten games. Despite achieving whipping-boy status second only to that curly-haired bloke in the centre square, he picked up votes in a few games including the final-round debacle.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

26th. Beau Waters​

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Games: 7
Goals: 0
Votes: 44
Weighted average: 1.58
Best match: Rd 1 vs Fremantle – 1.23

After last year’s All-Australian season, the vice captain’s body betrayed him once again in 2013. Waters started well, garnering a good number of votes for his efforts in the season-opening derby, but fell away after that. He missed two weeks with a quad injury, came back for a week, then missed two more weeks with a groin, came back for another week, missed a month with a quad injury, managed three consecutive games on his return, then was ruled out of the return derby with a knee injury. Before he could come back from that he had season-ending shoulder surgery. When he was able to get on the park, his disposal was generally rusty. He will hopefully be able to come back fit and firing in 2014.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

25th. Scott Lycett​

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Games: 7
Goals: 2
Votes: 40
Weighted average: 2.08
Best match: Rd 22 vs Collingwood – 1.13

The third-year ruckman was given the first crack at filling the gaping hole left by Nic Naitanui’s delayed start to the year, but lost his spot to Callum Sinclair after having zero impact in the round 1 derby. After some strong performances for East Perth he was called up late in the year when Naitanui was put on ice, and showed massive improvement over the final six games. His best games, votes-wise, came in the losses to the Bulldogs and Collingwood in Melbourne.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

24th. Blayne Wilson​

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Games: 7
Goals: 0
Votes: 74
Weighted average: 2.16
Best match: Rd 11 vs St Kilda – 1.68

The young mid-sized defender finally made his debut mid-year against the Saints after two and a half seasons on the list, and immediately impressed with a polished kicking display. While there were question marks over his speed and agility, he managed another half-dozen games and showed he could be a valuable asset as he matures.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

23rd. Simon Tunbridge​

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Games: 2
Goals: 2
Votes: 27
Weighted average: 2.45
Best match: Rd 23 vs Adelaide – 2.45

Given a surprise debut after being elevated from the rookie list to replace the injured Shannon Hurn, Tunbridge started as the sub against Essendon at Subiaco and had to wait until the final quarter was well underway before taking the field. It wasn’t the best way to start an AFL career and Tunbridge got just two touches and was sent back to Perth the following week. He returned in the final round and was impressive amidst the carnage, kicking two goals.