1 hour ago, ProDee said:

As a comparison to show how good Hunt's year was, Callum Mills, who is favourite to take out the award, played 20 games and rated 5 or above 18 times.  He rated above 5 nine times.  Four times he rated 7 or above, including two 8's.  His average rating was 5.6 to Hunt's 5.5.  One will win the award and the other didn't get a nomination.

It's an ill conceived award.

I hope the AFL addresses it next season. Surely there is a simple solution. Maybe include five additional nominees after the home and away season has concluded to reward the most consistent performers not already nominated. That or use the last five weeks of the season to reward the most consistent.

A system where a player can be nominated with one very good game while others with ten or more good games can miss out is so obviously flawed.

1 hour ago, Redleg said:

It's an ill conceived award.

I'm think it is more poorly administered than ill conceived. 

If a first year player is the best first year player for that weekend for 4 weekends in a row then he should get 4 nominations.

The award as it stands is more about recognising a young player that has played well and "spreading the love" rather than picking the best 1st year player on any given weekend. 

It is flawed.

 

33 minutes ago, P-man said:

I hope the AFL addresses it next season. Surely there is a simple solution. Maybe include five additional nominees after the home and away season has concluded to reward the most consistent performers not already nominated. That or use the last five weeks of the season to reward the most consistent.

A system where a player can be nominated with one very good game while others with ten or more good games can miss out is so obviously flawed.

you are forgetting afl is all about money.  NAB want their name flashed around each week

I would just have an award for the best first year player and an award for the next under 21 player.  give them out a the brownlow of something

32 minutes ago, DubDee said:

you are forgetting afl is all about money.  NAB want their name flashed around each week

I would just have an award for the best first year player and an award for the next under 21 player.  give them out a the brownlow of something

NAB still have their name flashed around each week under the change I suggested. Just include some additional nominees at the end as a catch all mechanism.

2 hours ago, DubDee said:

you are forgetting afl is all about money.  NAB want their name flashed around each week

I would just have an award for the best first year player and an award for the next under 21 player.  give them out a the brownlow of something

They should have a weekly award but everyone that fits the age/games criteria should be eligible for the award.

It has morphed into the best 1st year player award which is not how it was brought in to the comp. It was all about the player that was most likely to become a star.

All subjective assessments have their problems. The nomination process provides an unnecessary limitation on the decision makers which exacerbates the problem.

The same problems occur with the All Australian squad, the coach of the year*, Norm Smith Medal, etc. They're all subjective. But at least in these last three everyone in the category is eligible.

*This will probably send SWYL and Beelzebub off their respective nuts but the Coach of the year should be (but for political reasons probably won't be) John Worsfold. What he's done to keep those players sane and to win three games is more than anything any of the other 17 coaches have done.

3 hours ago, P-man said:

I hope the AFL addresses it next season. Surely there is a simple solution.

Yes there is.

Make it open to any first year player.  The nominations are farcical and not required.