Despite the Essendon issue still bubbling away, let’s talk about what we really want to talk about – who will make the eight, take home the Brownlow and secure the Rising Star.
In past years, the composition of the top eight has been signed, sealed and delivered going into the final round with the order still up for grabs, but not this year.
There’s a good chance we will go into the last day of the home-and-away season on Sunday and still not know who will finish eighth if Richmond’s giant killing run comes to an end on Saturday at the hands of Sydney.
It’s also going to be tight in the race for the Brownlow Medal. With Gary Ablett suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in Round 16, it opened up the battle – although Gaz will still be right in the mix after a spectacular first half of the season.
There’s a good argument he will be in contention to poll three votes at least eight times, and that puts him right in the mix.
Sydney’s Josh Kennedy, Joel Selwood from Geelong and Essendon’s Dyson Heppell are among the others right in contention, although Kennedy and Heppell have both missed a game through injury, while Lance Franklin has been spectacular for the Swans in the second half of the season. A smokey could be another Swan, Luke Parker, who has been superb this season.
There is also a tight tussle for the Rising Star. Generally there is at least two clear favourites each year and sometimes one stands out like Jaeger O’Meara last season, Joel Selwood in 2007 and Dyson Heppell in 2011.
That is certainly not the case in 2014. Marcus Bontempelli from the Bulldogs is seen as the favourite due to some brilliant displays, but he has missed six games and has had some quiet performances.
If the award was being judged on match winning efforts, he probably wins. However there are others who may not have been as eye catching, but have been more consistent and played more games.
Lewis Taylor from Brisbane has played every match and been terrific. He has made a contribution to this young Lions team on a regular basis.
His teammate, James Aish, has hardly missed and shown why he was a top ten selection. He belonged at this level from the first bounce.
Luke McDonald of North Melbourne has kept his spot in a finals-bound outfit in all but one game. He has been excellent, averaging 18 disposals a game and playing a number of different roles for the Kangaroos.
He is now a permanent member of this team and should pick up plenty of one and two votes.
My pick though is Harry Cunningham of the Swans. Let me refer to the iconic 1970s and 80s American TV series, Happy Days.
He is definitely his namesake, Richie Cunningham. He is reliable, hard-working and solid. He has played every game with the premiership favourites managing to deny club legend Ryan O’Keefe and sublime youngster Tom Mitchell opportunities.
He is a goalkicking midfielder, kicking 16 goals, but he can also play as a tagger and will be important in the Swans’ quest for their third flag in nine years in a few weeks time.
Like McDonald, Cunningham should pick up a swag of one and two votes, with ‘the Fonz’ Bontempelli probably getting the most best on grounds. He is undoubtably an excitement machine, but for consistency Cunningham might just shade them all.
In reality in the words of the late and great racecaller, Bert Bryant, the answer is a pineapple as to who will finish eighth, win the Brownlow and the Rising star, but that’s how we like it.
We want to focus on the game and its fascinating on-field activities, not the off field drama – especially at this time of year as the smell of September creeps into the air.
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