Jump to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
Demonland

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Gary Ayres Player of the Finals

Redleg
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

Posted

Not that it matters that much, but this award has to be meaningless, considering that some players have more games to play in. MacRae beat Tracc by 2 votes after playing in 4 games, compared to Tracc’s 3 games.

Surely you would weight the votes, if you wanted the award to stand for something.

 

  • Quote
    • Like 14
    • Thanks 2
     

    Surely for this medal to be taken seriously, it ought to be weighted. This year's winner played 4 Finals, our boys played 3. The winner had a very dud Grand Final. The epitome of a Pyrrhic Victory, I would have thought. 

  • Quote
    •  

    It’s a bit like winning a long distance race because you ran the furthest, even though it took you 5 days - while the Ethiopian bloke did a kilometre less, but in 90 minutes.

  • Quote
    • Like 9
    • Haha 8

    Yeah, the votes really should be normalised for the number of games played but hey, it has always been done like this and Macrae was a really good player across the series. In the end we have the medals that count and Trac’s grand final as well as Max’s prelim will go down as 2 of the best anyone has played. 
    I’ve gotta say, I’m feeling pretty happy about what the boys have achieved.

  • Quote

    Ridiculous that it isn’t awarded based off average points per game. Literally punishes the players who win QFs…

  • Quote
    • Like 8

    hmmm, it's a bit like a participation award.

    Always been a fan of those.

  • Quote
    • Like 4
    • Love 1
     
    16 minutes ago, Hayden Junt said:

    Ridiculous that it isn’t awarded based off average points per game. Literally punishes the players who win QFs…

    Avg pts per game is problematic too - e.g. a BoG in a losing elim final team - but yes, definitely there should be a correction for teams that skip through to a prelim. The current system is a joke.

  • Quote
    • Like 5
    4 minutes ago, old55 said:

    Biggest joke ever:

    https://www.afl.com.au/news/682327/star-dog-clinches-gary-ayres-award-coaches-votes-for-gf-revealed

    He'll treasure that one.  "Yes, 2021 ... the year we stumbled into the finals, and only beat Brissie with the umps' help, flogged Port who weren't even on the ground, and then got blown away in that historic ten minutes of football ... yeah, well, I was the best player in the finals that year ........ no? Well .... do you want see my collection of etchings maybe?"

  • Quote
    • Like 4
    • Haha 3

    Ridiculous to do it solely from 3, 2, 1 of each game. Stick your neck out and say who was the best player. Trac by a country margin is the player of the finals because in every important moment he stepped up and got us to the premiership. 

    I don’t think Trac will lose a moments sleep from it though. 

    Edited by Pates

  • Quote
    • Like 5

    Not even the best players the Dogs had in their 3 finals. Hilarious. 

  • Quote
    • Like 6

    12 minutes ago, BDA said:

    does anyone really care?

    As I was walking down the street one day ♪
    A man came up to me and told me
    I had won the Gary Ayres award
    And I said ...

    Does anybody really know what time it is?
    Does anybody really care? ♫
    If so, I can't imagine why
    We've all got time enough to cry

    As I was walking down the street one day
    A pretty lady looked at me
    And said I saw you in the Dees blitzkrieg ♪
    And I said ...

    Does anybody really know what time it is?
    Does anybody really care? ♫
    If so, I can't imagine why
    We've all got time enough to cry

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Love 1
    • Haha 3

    Should be average with minimum 3 games to have any credibility. I'm sure it won't take pride of place at the McRae house

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    When I read this, I almost choked on my fifth beer for the day, spilling it down the front of the guernsey I haven’t taken off in 3 days

  • Quote
    2 minutes ago, bobby1554 said:

    When I read this, I almost choked on my fifth beer for the day, spilling it down the front of the guernsey I haven’t taken off in 3 days

    Was it anything to do with what was written here, or is it just because you're still sozzled from Sat nite?

  • Quote
    27 minutes ago, BDA said:

    does anyone really care?

    Exactly, actually I'm glad our boys don't rate the individual accolades this year, can u imagine Oliver won the brownlow but we lost in Saturday night what a empty feeling, keep winning premierships nothing else comes close 

  • Quote
    • Like 3

    "Macrae didn't poll in the Grand Final" says it all.

    Surely the simple solution is that all players get their three best games counted.

    Done, issue over. Still fair to the four-game players without giving any ridiculous advantage.

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    6 minutes ago, Mazer Rackham said:

    Was it anything to do with what was written here, or is it just because you're still sozzled from Sat nite?

    When I read that Macrae had won that medal

  • Quote

    Gary Ayres didn’t even deserve his norm smith in 1988.

  • Quote
    •  

    7.6 pts per game vs 6.3 says Trac was better.

    9 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

    "Macrae didn't poll in the Grand Final" says it all.

    Surely the simple solution is that all players get their three best games counted.

    Done, issue over. Still fair to the four-game players without giving any ridiculous advantage.

    If that was the case, then McRae still win doesn’t he?

    I think you just remove the SF from the calculations so the EF/QF, PF and GF are the games that poll.

    Edited by CYB

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    I think it’s insignificant Trac has 2 medals from 2021 McRae would love

  • Quote
    • Like 3

    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • 2025 Player Reviews: #42 Aidan Johnson

      The VFL premiership player was recruited from Werribee to alleviate Melbourne’s forward line woes and give a chop out in the ruck, but he managed only five senior matches in his first season at the club. At times, he was a dominant force at VFL level.

      • 21 replies
      Demonland

    • 2025 Player Reviews: #44 Luker Kentfield

      An exciting young key forward, Kentfield was selected in the 2024 mid-season draft but has yet to make his AFL debut. He was sidelined by a severe bout of pneumonia over the summer, which consequently limited his pre-season. Upon his return a month into the season, he commenced in defence but ultimately impressed with his progress at Casey, particularly in the latter part of the season as a strong marking goal kicking forward.

        • Love
        • Thanks
      • 15 replies
      Demonland

    • AFLW REPORT: West Coast

      Melbourne’s response to last week’s heartbreak was emphatic, as the Demons delivered a statement win over West Coast at a windswept Casey Fields. All of the pre-match hype surrounded the coach’s box matchup of Mick Stinear up against his apprentice, Daisy Pearce along with the gloomy weather forecast. In the end, it was less about tactical chess and more about Melbourne’s relentless execution. With rain looming, the DeeArmy and early birds snapped up the best undercover viewing spots.

      • 4 replies
      Demonland

    • AFLW PREVIEW: West Coast

      Epic battle alert.  This Sunday, Casey Fields hosts a coach’s showdown pitting the wits of the master Mick Stinear (92 games, 71.7% win rate) against his protégé Daisy Pearce (16 games, 43.8%). Still early in her coaching journey, Daisy’s record doesn’t yet reflect her impact — but she’s already the best-performed coach at West Coast.Dais’ is mythic.  Like Katniss Everdeen, everyone either wants to kiss her, kill her (sporting metaphor) or be her.  Toothers Daisy Pearce is a role model, someone admired for their heart, humility and humour.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • AFLW REPORT: Port Adelaide

      Well, that was a shock. The Demons 4-game unbeaten run came to a grinding halt in a tense, scrappy affair at the sunny, windy Alberton Oval, with the Power holding on for a 2-point win. The Dees had their chances—plenty of them—but couldn't convert when it mattered most. Port’s tackling pressure rattled the Dees, triggering a fumble frenzy and surprising lack of composure from seasoned players.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • Welcome to Demonland: Steven King

      The Melbourne Football Club has selected a new coach for the 2026 season appointing Geelong Football Club assistant coach Steven King to the head role.

        • Clap
        • Haha
        • Like
      • 1,064 replies
      Demonland
    View All

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.