On this last day of 2015, let’s look at the podium finishers, the unforgettables – and the very forgettables.
Gold medal
Michelle Payne for becoming the first woman jockey to win the coveted Melbourne Cup in 155 years, thanks to her superb ride on 100-1 pop Prince of Penzance. The emotional scenes with her brother Steve post race will long be remembered, so too her quote of the year.
Having thanked those close to her for support in tough times, Michelle added – “I just want to say that everyone else can get stuffed because they think women aren’t strong enough”. Go girl.
Silver medal
Johnathan Thurston, rugby league superstar winning a record fourth Dally M, a record third Golden Boot as the world’s best in the 13-man code, and booting the extra-time drop goal to clinch the Cowboys first NRL premiership in the club’s 23-year history.
He’s rugby league’s best ambassador, and an Immortal-in-waiting.
Bronze medal
Jason Day winning his first major, the USPGA Championship with a record 20-under among a career-best five wins in 2015, banking a career-best $12 million this year, and reaching number one in the world, The mouth-watering prospect of Jason, Jordan Spieth, and Rory McIlroy going head-to-head in 2016 will relive the icon days when Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Jack Nickaus reigned supreme.
The unforgettables, in no particular order
Michael Cheika for generating pride and passion in the Wallaby jersey to win the Rugby Championship, and reaching the Rugby World Cup final for a win and a loss to the mighty All Blacks.
Laura Geitz for captaining the Diamonds to win the World Cup beating New Zealand in the epic final in front of a world record 16,752 netball crowd at Allphones in Sydney, then captaining the Diamonds to retain the Constellation Cup over the Kiwis. She then led the Brisbane Firebirds to capture the Trans-Tasman championship in a nail-biter over the NSW Swifts.
Alastair Clarkson for coaching Hawthorn to a third successive AFL flag. It will be a brave punter backing against a fourth.
Ellyse Perry as the launching pad for the Australian women cricketers achieving what the men couldn’t do – win the Ashes. Ellyse scored 264 runs at 33, and took 16 wickets at 13.43 to prove the point.
Steve Smith for being the world’s highest Test run-getter in 2015 with 1474 at 71.70 from 13 Tests, and his breath of fresh air captaincy of his country. And he was the leading run-getter when Australian won the Cricket World Cup, downing the Black Caps in the final.
Coach Ange Postegcoglou and superstar Tim Cahill for combining to win the Socceroos’ first major tournament – the Asian Cup.
Craig Lowndes for winning his sixth Bathurst 1000, and cracking the barrier of 100 V8 Supercars victories – an ornament to his sport.
So too Mick Fanning who survived a July shark attack on his board in South Africa, then made a valiant attempt to win a fourth world title last week, the day after his older brother Peter died of heart complications. Mick lost in the semis, but his courage remained sky high.
The very forgattables
Nick Kyrgios who couldn’t care less what people think of his outlandish behaviour on and off the tennis court as he continues to self-destruct, bringing disrepute to his country, and his sport.
Andrew Johns continues to severely damage the Immortal brand with loutish behaviour in public. How he became an Immortal ahead of Ken Irvine, Norm Provan, Peter Sterling and Mal Meninga defies description.
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke for saying his dog Jerry would be a better Australian cricket coach than John Buchanan.
The Queensland Rugby League for offering Paul Green the Origin job ahead of Kevin Walters to replace Meninga, the new Kangaroos coach. Cowboy coach Green knocked back the offer and eventually the QRL appointed Walters. The QRL was lucky Kevin didn’t tell them to shove it.
Welsh banker and rugby-lover Dave Smith is gone as the NRL chief exec after three years of not understanding rugby league. Pity he didn’t take the chairman John Grant with him.
May the forgettables be far less in 2016, happy New Year Roarers.
Johnno
Guest
Aussies winning cricket ODI World Cup, Peter Senior's Australian Masters win
Jarijari
Guest
Can't argue with that lot Lordie, little Michelle definitely takes the cake, with a heap of icing, and JT, well there aren't many better footballers in the history of any code. And a fine new year to your good self, David.
John
Guest
Here Here well said
Birdy
Guest
Being an unbiased RL supporter I will give my top 3. Hard to go past Michelle Payne not just because she was the first female Melbourne Cup winner , but she also did it on a 100-1 shot . 2nd , gulp , hard to go past Cheika in just 12 months taking the train wreck Wallabies to the 2nd best in the world , hard to beat. 3rd Johnathon Thurston , everything that can be said about him and his 2015 cowboys has been said. It took a 100-1 shot and a very special coach to knock Thurston out of undisputed 2015 sporting spectacle first place, in the 2nd best Grand Final Ever seen. (89 the best). Now for the gong award , drum roll , Hold your breath , no , hands down the English rugby team and their management. Old boys club , back stabbers, prima donnas , whingers and sooks. I can't even say underachievers, because they showed nothing , but to them it was everyone else's fault. Just have to have my final New Years bash with some advice for Eddie Jones. Buy a steel plate for your back.
Maggie
Guest
So it was ok for John Buchanan to make disparaging comments about Michael Clarke on Clarke's retirement after a wonderful cricket career, but not for Clarke to respond? Buchanan's comments and their timing say more about him than they do about Clarke. And Clarke did not say that his dog would be a "better" coach than Buchanan, he said that "anyone, even my dog Jerry, could have coached (the Australian cricket team) to world domination" because of the number of hugely talented players then in the team. A pretty accurate point I think.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Good list David - cheers. Why no love for Dave Smith? The bloke did a good job as head of the NRL.