From 2007 until 2009 the Australian Football League produced the AFL Army Award to recognise players who produced significant acts of bravery or selflessness to promote the cause of their team during a game. Examples of such bravery that are not usually rewarded include, a chase-and-tackle, executing a solid bump, shepherd or spoil despite facing potential heavy contact, a difficult assist on a goal, taking a mark whilst running back with the flight of the ball, and so forth.
Selection process
editThree nominees were selected by a panel and put up for a public vote after each of the 22 regular season rounds. Each of the weekly winners were then considered by the panel (AFL All Australian Selection Committee) to produce a selection for the general public to vote on. The winner of the vote does need the endorsement of the selection panel. The process was similar to the system of deciding the Goal of the Year and Mark of the Year awards.
Winners
edit| Year | Winner | Team | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Alwyn Davey | Essendon | Made a diving smother, then recovered for two further defensive efforts.[1] |
| 2008 | Brett Deledio | Richmond | Extremely gutsy attempt to mark with the flight.[2][3] |
| 2009 | Tom Hawkins | Geelong | Brilliant smother and subsequent chase and tackle.[4][5] |
References
edit- ^ "Attention! Davey wins inaugural AFL Army Award". Melbourne: Essendon Football Club. 18 September 2007. Archived from the original on 7 November 2007.
- ^ Witham, Jennifer (15 September 2008). "Richmond's Deledio wins 2008 Army Award". AFL Bigpond Network. Archived from the original on 18 September 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
- ^ "Cats dominate star line-up". 14 September 2008.
- ^ "Army Award goes to Cat Hawkins". AFL BigPond Network. 14 September 2009. Archived from the original on 22 September 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ Petrie, Andrea & Hogan, Jesse (15 September 2009). "Top four get the lion's share". The Age. Melbourne.
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