Home and Away Game Awards - Are They Irrelevant?

[DTRAIN87]

I was discussing this the other day about how silly these awards are with my friend with the exception of maybe the derbies. Is there any real point to having them when really it is just another game for 4 points?

The biggest one that stands out for me is the supposed importance of Anzac Day when really it is no different and no more important than the game in the later part of the season. Further the myth regarding how good some one is for winning so many Anzac day medals is also pointless, especially when it is used by an Essendon or Collingwood supporter to justify how good some one is for example. The fact that it can only be won by members of two clubs shows how insignificant it is in relation to the Brownlow or the the AFLPA MVP.

Now some might argue that how does this differ from the Norm Smith Medal but when you go for the Norm Smith you are playing for the premiership.

Therefore I argue that it is just stupid to hear people use home and away game medals (like my stupid Essendon and Collingwood supporter friends) to justify how good a player like James Hird was.

Discuss!

 

[HyperAgressiveDonk]

The ONLY worthwhile awards are All Australians, a B&F in a team that finished Top 4, the Coleman medal and the Norm Smith. Everything else means **** all, particuarly stuff like the ANZAC Day medal.

 

[shintemaster]

Short answer – yes.

Medium answer – when it’s a struggle to even remember who won the McLelland trophy most years then obviously the winner of a manufactured award between two clubs isn’t worth all that much more than nothing.

 

[FoxC]

Speaking of Anzac Medal, do you still remember Mark McGough?

Won it for Collingwood in 2002 in his second AFL game and was delisted 35 games later. Played only 12 more games for St Kilda and was also delisted at end of 2004.

Absolute legend!

 

[greatwhiteshark]

The ONLY worthwhile awards are All Australians, a B&F in a team that finished Top 4, and the Norm Smith. Everything else means **** all, particuarly stuff like the ANZAC Day medal.

A B&F for any club no matter where you are on the ladder is a huge award and probably the most sort after award for an individual one could ever want other than the Brownlow.

Where your side is on the ladder makes no difference and it does not change it's achievement

 

[MarkT2]

Not sure what the issue is. I don't rememebr who won the last Showdown or Deby medal but I bet everyone at each of the clubs does. I don't think undue importance is asrcibed to any of them. If no one rates them then that is how important they are but why would you not award it? Why award a reserves B&F for that matter?

 

[HyperAgressiveDonk]

A B&F for any club no matter where you are on the ladder is a huge award and probably the most sort after award for an individual one could ever want other than the Brownlow.

Where your side is on the ladder makes no difference and it does not change it's achievement

Yes it does, it makes all the difference. Winning a B&F in a bottom side mean very little. A B&F in a premiership year is the most sought after award, as you're the best player in the best team. Several football pundits have said this including Nathan Buckley & Leigh Matthews to name a couple.

 

[MarkT2]

Speaking of Anzac Medal, do you still remember Mark McGough?

Won it for Collingwood in 2002 in his second AFL game and was delisted 35 games later. Played only 12 more games for St Kilda and was also delisted at end of 2004.

Absolute legend!

And Paul Deer won a Norm Smith.

 

[Puntroad]

In reference to the Anzac day or Dreamtime awards, I don't think they mean much at all. You're right, it's just 4 points. But the occasion is important.

 

[HyperAgressiveDonk]

And Paul Deer won a Norm Smith.

Yeah but Paul Dear managed 123 games of league football in a side that was one of the greatest ever. He could actually play. McGough was just a pleb.

 

[Morris Major]

Almost as pointless as those 'cups' that are won during the H&A season, the awkwardness on the captain's face when they are presented with the cups are always funny to watch.

 

[royals1922]

If you were to do a top 22 of the best players in home and away games since 1990 and the best 22 players in a final series since 1990 the two teams would be significantly different.

Finals are where action speaks and BS walks.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

Yes it does, it makes all the difference. Winning a B&F in a bottom side mean very little. A B&F in a premiership year is the most sought after award, as you're the best player in the best team. Several football pundits have said this including Nathan Buckley & Leigh Matthews to name a couple.

I would say that every player that won the B&F at their club this year would treat it as a huge honour and something they will cherish for ever.

To try and say that the award means nothing this year because the side did not perform that well is just silly.

Gary Ablett won the award at both geelong and now at the Suns. He wins the award because he is the best player in the side, and while there may be more competition from others in a higher placed side he is still the best player.

If you think Ablett dumped his medal at the Suns in the bin on the way out because it was the bottom club then so be it but I think it was something he would hold as a huge honour in winning and takes pride of place on his mantle at home next to his others.

 

[FoxC]

And Paul Deer won a Norm Smith.

I thought Paul Dear was pretty good in 1991.

 

[LadyPants]

On the topic of irrelevant achievements, can we just please stop the NAB cup? Worst form of pre-season in any major sport.

 

[Lord Nicholson]

They're total nonsense, but then every single accolade in the sport is just a big wank.

The only thing that matters are the premiership medallions, the premiership cup, and the premiership flag. The rest is silence.

 

[Partridge]

The ONLY worthwhile awards are All Australians, a B&F in a team that finished Top 4, the Coleman medal and the Norm Smith. Everything else means **** all, particuarly stuff like the ANZAC Day medal.

I'd say the Coleman, the Norm Smith, to a lesser extent All-Australians (it's nice and everything, but really just a pissing contest between 6 drunken journos), the MVP, then the Brownlow.

Agree totally about the Anzac Day medal. Even more contrived and artificial than the match itself. Utterly irrelevant.

 

[Wallaby]

The best has to be the Dreamtime award - it's a boomerang.

No player has ever chucked that away ------- successfully.

 

[AndyLucimitis]

Agree on the ANZAC Day medal issue - cringed when I once heard James Hird referred to as 'triple ANZAC Medal winner' !

 

[themidlandmaster]

I like em, good way for Pies players to pad thier resume

 

[demondavey]

I was discussing this the other day about how silly these awards are with my friend with the exception of maybe the derbies. Is there any real point to having them when really it is just another game for 4 points?

The biggest one that stands out for me is the supposed importance of Anzac Day when really it is no different and no more important than the game in the later part of the season. Further the myth regarding how good some one is for winning so many Anzac day medals is also pointless, especially when it is used by an Essendon or Collingwood supporter to justify how good some one is for example. The fact that it can only be won by members of two clubs shows how insignificant it is in relation to the Brownlow or the the AFLPA MVP.

Now some might argue that how does this differ from the Norm Smith Medal but when you go for the Norm Smith you are playing for the premiership.

Therefore I argue that it is just stupid to hear people use home and away game medals (like my stupid Essendon and Collingwood supporter friends) to justify how good a player like James Hird was.

Discuss!

They mean F*** all if you ask me. All they do is decide who wins various medals for best afield in a number of derbies and ANZAC day, oh and they decide which midfielder receives the brownlow. The most important award of the year is the Norm Smith, very rarely does someone win it from the losing side, and the guy that normally wins it is instrumental in his team winning the flag.

Norm Smith Medal.......Daylight........................................Everything else

 

[demondavey]

The best has to be the Dreamtime award - it's a boomerang.

No player has ever chucked that away ------- successfully.

Gold

 

[The Passenger]

i didn't mind having the occasional game, such as anzac day or ross glendinning or whatever they do in the showdown. for big games...

but there are now a redicolous amount of awards handing out that they lose a lot of meaning

 

[vjknight]

Yeah but Paul Dear managed 123 games of league football in a side that was one of the greatest ever. He could actually play.

and he did manage to play a blinder that day as well. was impassable across half forward when the eagles were coming out of defence.


and OP, just wondering - do geelong EVER play for any H&A medals ?

just asking

 

[MarkT2]

Yeah but Paul Dear managed 123 games of league football in a side that was one of the greatest ever. He could actually play. McGough was just a pleb.

Yes but he's not a player who belongs in the same room as Ablett snr, Black, Buckley, Rioli & co.. He won a BOG award for being BOG on the day.