Despite missing five matches from rounds 15 to 19 with a fractured leg, Cross managed to produce a top first season with Melbourne. Had injury not struck, he may have claimed his seventh top three placing in a club best and fairest.

Games MFC 2014 17

Career Total 227

Goals MFC 2014 1

Career Total 34

Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 238 votes

Yep, finished second on a votes per game basis, only behind Jonesy. Terrific effort from Cross, shows how much the coaches rate his effort around the contest, and gets a well deserved second year.

The essence of a true professional footballer. Dedicated, self motivating, and team committed. The Bulldogs were very lucky to have him for so long and should have kept him on. Hopefully we can get another 2 playing years out of him, then keep him on at the MFC. Much as we should have with James McDonald.

Love this bloke.

Love this bloke.

Huge tick from me. Always seems to do the right thing. Doesn't panic, makes the most of his abilities.

Also can someone explain how he can come back from a fractured leg after 5 rounds?

Great role model.

Deserves to put his hand in the jar and take an extra 5 out of it.

Even with their glut of inside mids, I was surprised Bulldogs let him go. Didn't look anywhere near finished in the games I saw him play in '13 and had an excellent year for us. Could very well have snatched the B'n'F if not for the injury.

It's not outside the realms of possibility that he'll notch up 50 games for the MFC.

It says a lot about where we are at that a reject midfielder from fellow strugglers in his mid 30s who missed a swathe of games with a busted leg still finished in our top 5 at the b&f.

He's an absolute professional and natural footballer.

Plus he looks like the actor who plays Stannis Baratheon.

It says a lot about where we are at that a reject midfielder from fellow strugglers in his mid 30s who missed a swathe of games with a busted leg still finished in our top 5 at the b&f.

It doesn't really say anything, and calling him a 'reject' is a slap in the face. Cross was one of their key players when they were a top 4 side, and he's lost nothing since then really. He is just a product of a struggling club with a lot of promising young mids managing its list. I'd go out on a limb and say if the Bulldogs still saw themselves as contenders, they'd have kept him.

So long as his body holds up he's the sort of player who will play at a decent standard pretty much forever because he's never relied on pace. His core attributes of clean hands, big tank and fanatic attack on the ball won't deteriorate too much as he gets old.

Was just a pleasure to watch this year.

Made me think of Junior at times - a type of player I have really missed watching.

Need 18 More of this blokes professionalism, work ethic and commitment !!

First two thirds of the year was excellent, and his workrate and commitment was outstanding. Looked particularly slow and lacked penetration in his kicking after his return from injury, but never stopped working. I hope he can recapture his early season form next year, otherwise it may be a long season for all concerned.