Vote for The Roar’s Australian Sportsperson of 2009
Roar Pro
By The Roar, 9 Dec 2009 The Roar is a Roar Pro
Red Bull's Mark Webber, of Australia, celebrates after wining the Brazil's Formula One Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track in Sao Paulo, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. AP Photo/Andre Penner
Last week we voted for The Roar’s Australian sporting team of the year. This week we open voting on The Roar’s Australian sportsperson of the year, with great international performances from the likes of Mark Webber and Cadel Evans, and domestic stars such as Gary Ablett Jnr. and Billy Slater.
Who of the following athletes deserve the title of Australian sportsperson of the year?
The nominees are:
Mark Webber – Motorsport
Webber finally entered the Grand Prix winners club with victories in Germany and Brazil. Despite being limited in his pre-season preparations as he recovered from a broken leg, Webber took advantage of a competitive Red Bull, keeping highly rated teammate Sebastian Vettel honest all season.
Cadel Evans – Cycling
While his campaign to win Le Tour de France may have been derailed by a disappointing team performance, Evans went on to the claim the men’s world road championship in Switzerland with an aggressive late race attack, in addition to an impressive display at the challenging Giro d’Italia.
Steve Hooker – Athletics
Hooker added world championship success to his Olympic gold medal, overcoming injury in Berlin to jump to a courageous victory; establishing himself at the forefront of his sport and as Australia’s most successful track and field athlete at present.
Tim Cahill – Football
Timmy keeps scoring for the Socceroos, saving our national side’s blushes on more than one occasion, scoring braces against Japan in World Cup qualification and Ireland in an international friendly, and that crucial goal against Oman in the Asian Cup qualifier.
Gary Ablett Jr. – AFL
Ablett confirmed his status as the greatest in the game at present with a famous Brownlow win, his third consecutive AFL Players’ Association MVP award and, more importantly, his second premiership success with Geelong. Racking up 40 possessions plus on several occasions, Ablett was unstoppable in 2009.
Billy Slater – League
Slater won the battle of the fullbacks against Jarryd Hayne to help Melbourne Storm to NRL premiership success. His starring performance in the Four Nations final against England capped off a great year.
Mark Schwarzer – Football
The rock for the Socceroos, it has often been Schwarzer’s fine form that has saved the Socceroos on numerous occasions. With only one goal conceded in the World Cup qualification final group stage, Schwarzer was once again pivotal to the Socceroos’ success.
Jarryd Hayne – League
The Dally M victor helped vault the Parramatta Eels from the mid-pack to the NRL Grand Final with some breathtaking match-winning performances in a breakout season.
Other nominees include:
Harry Kewell – Football. Rejuvenated at Galatasaray, Kewell was also a linchpin for the Socceroos.
Matt Giteau – Rugby. The leading points scorer for the Wallabies this season and nominated for the IRB’s player of the year award.
Ricky Ponting – Cricket. Centuries in the Ashes and most runs in the ICC Champions Trophy tournament showed Ponting is one of the greatest batsmen in the game.
Craig Alexander – Triathlon. Won the challenging Hawaiian Ironman and defended his world ironman title at the age of 36!
Dani Samuels – Athletics (Field). Victory in the discus at the Berlin championships made Samuels the youngest world champion at 21.
Stephanie Gilmore – Surfing. Claimed her third world title as she follows in the footsteps of Layne Beachley.
Sharelle McMahon – Netball. Led the Melbourne Vixens to premiership success and Captain of the
Australian Netball Diamonds.
So who deserves the title?
Vote now and leave a comment to justify your decision. Voting closes next Wednesday afternoon (Dec 16).
[poll id="61"]
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Brett McKay said | December 9th 2009 @ 7:18am | Report comment
Steve Hooker for me, anyone that can become World Champ on one leg deserves never-ending credit…
Tough field though, Eds. Marcus Ambrose was only last week named joint (Australian) International Motor Sportsperson of the year, along with Mark Webber. And then along with Hooker, there two other World Champions as well (Samuels and Gilmore). Might not be as clear-cut a winner as the TotY last week..
Chris said | December 9th 2009 @ 7:27am | Report comment
Only two Queanbeyan boys! What a travesty!
katzilla said | December 9th 2009 @ 7:57am | Report comment
Hooker for me also. But why no Danny Green in the nominations?
Won the belt, defended the belt against one of the best pound for pound boxers of all time.
Marshall said | December 9th 2009 @ 9:09am | Report comment
Webber for me – wins in the elite of motorsport
David said | December 9th 2009 @ 3:08pm | Report comment
Jarryd Hayne is obviously the best of this selection
Dominated the NRL, the premier football code in terms of skill and toughness in Australia and took his side to the grand final on the back of his Dally M form. Looking at the other candidates:
Mark Webber – Motorsport (is this even a sport? and he has won one race.)
Cadel Evans – Cycling (good effort but not in a skillful sport)
Steve Hooker – Athletics (what did he do this year?)
Tim Cahill – Football (still living in the spotlight of the 2006 world cup)
Gary Ablett Jr. – AFL (This is trully a nothing sport with little skill level and soft)
Billy Slater – League (Didn’t win the Dally M)
Mark Schwarzer – Football (Once again what did he do this year?)
Harry Kewell – Football (Hasn’t he been injured for a large portion of the year?)
Matt Giteau – Rugby (No one cares about this sport.)
Ricky Ponting – Cricket (loses an Ashes series)
Craig Alexander – Triathlon (Who?)
Dani Samuels – Athletics (Field) (Who?)
Stephanie Gilmore – Surfing (Great effort on the world champs but it is surfing.)
Sharell McMahan – Netball (Not a fan of the Netball)
Marshall said | December 9th 2009 @ 3:36pm | Report comment
David you need to read the bios before you write such comments.
Pippinu said | December 9th 2009 @ 6:23pm | Report comment
David
“Gary Ablett Jr. – AFL (This is trully a nothing sport with little skill level and soft) ”
Interestingly, this is not the very best demonstration of your ignorance.
I would think that you not knowing who Dani Samuels is would take the proverbial cake.
ren said | December 9th 2009 @ 4:19pm | Report comment
I voted G. Ablett, Brownlow, MVP, Premiership Medallion, now only missing the Norm Smith from his impressive pool room.
I also want to question why there are three soccer players, 2league players but only one footballer. I thought there were lots of footballers who had brilliant seasons this year, Nick Reiwoldt comes to mind, a phenomenal athlete who will bust his gut every week, carried knee injuries throughout the finals.
Steve Hooker also deserves more than a mention- World Champion adn Olympic Champion is certainly no mean feat and i wouldn’t hesitate to guess that it is a very eclusive club, not to mention that he is widely regarded as the second geatest pole vaulter of all time behind serge bubka (i think that’s the blokes name)
Also David- whilst i whole heartedly disagree with your post I do have to agree with your comment on ponting.
Marshall said | December 9th 2009 @ 9:00pm | Report comment
Cahill Kewell and Schwarer all had great seasons fir club and country so deserve their spot. I think Ablett was the clear standout in the AFL by far.
The Bear said | December 9th 2009 @ 4:34pm | Report comment
Schwarzer… but that’s a fine list. No D.Green, tho?
JiMMM said | December 9th 2009 @ 6:03pm | Report comment
Has to be Steve Hooker for me, probably our only sportsperson who has been consistently at the top of his game for all of 2009, and won a world championship on one leg.
I’m a bit surprised Jamie Dwyer didn’t make the list, named world player of the year for the third time.
Robbos said | December 9th 2009 @ 8:52pm | Report comment
Unfortunately for Jamie, some sport just don’t get teh recognition it deserves.
JiMMM said | December 10th 2009 @ 8:33am | Report comment
To be fair, I would still vote for Steve Hooker, just surprised he didn’t even make the list
ren said | December 9th 2009 @ 6:30pm | Report comment
ricky ponting -1%
laugh
Beast-A-Tron said | December 9th 2009 @ 8:50pm | Report comment
Webber.
Few Australians make it to Formula 1, even fewer are successful.