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Hello and welcome, for the last time, to the Troy Luff Medal countdown for 2004. Tonight, we cover the club?s two finals; one a healthy win against a side in good form, the other a forgettable performance that was not the way we hoped to finish the season. Both, however, will be valuable experience, whether the experience was pleasant or harsh.
As we head into September, Barry Hall has already won a Troy Luff Medal. Only one player can catch him ? and Brett Kirk cannot surpass Baz, only join him at the top. Regardless of the result of tonight?s votes, both players deserve our applause for their efforts in 2004. If Stuart Maxfield does indeed decide to step down from the captaincy, either player would be a worthy successor.
Here?s the leader board as at the end of the season:
60 ? Barry Hall
50 ? Brett Kirk
31 ? Ryan O?Keefe
26 ? Leo Barry
24 ? Jude Bolton
22 ? Paul Williams
14 ? Paul Bevan
13 ? Amon Buchanan
10 ? Nick Davis, Adam Goodes, Tadhg Kennelly, Ben Mathews
The club?s September campaign began well when they booked a home elimination final, but they were no doubt nervous about their opponents. Rather than drawing the up and down Bombers or Fremantle, it was the West Coast Eagles ? who had finished the home and away season with a rush after looking out of finals contention ? who finished seventh.
In round eight, at Subiaco, Phillip Matera had cut loose with five goals. The work of Matthew Nicks, however, would keep Matera kickless, and the Eagles as a whole could manage only four goals. West Coast started better, but couldn?t get the score on the board, kicking waywardly. As the heavens opened and put on a sound and light show that, on reflection, was much more entertaining than the Grand Final ?entertainment? three weeks later, the Swans wrested control in the second quarter. The storm got so close the game was almost called off at half time, which would have given the Swans a win.
Chris Judd threatened to cut loose in the second half, but not enough of his teammates stood up to support him. Like they so often did in 2004, the Swans closed the game down, coasting to a comfortable 41-point win. In the midfield, Paul Williams was the standout, gathering 31 possessions in one of his best games of the season.
The votes:
5 ? Paul Williams
4 ? Matthew Nicks
3 ? Craig Bolton
2 ? Brett Kirk
1 ? Adam Goodes
Well, that?s it. Brett Kirk?s season has been something to remember, and he thoroughly deserves his All-Australian selection and standout performance in the Brownlow Medal. This year, however, the Troy Luff Medal goes to Barry Hall! Congratulations to both players, for both of them certainly deserve it.
After their strong win, the Swans travelled to Melbourne for their first Friday night game of the season. In round eleven, the Swans had completely outclassed the then unbeaten Saints, and the week before Brisbane had dished out an almighty welcome to finals football to the young St Kilda side. The Swans went into the game as slight favourites, with the prize for winning being a preliminary final berth against Port Adelaide.
Unfortunately, however, it was not to be. The Swans crashed out in disappointing style; the confidence and ability they had shown in the wet against West Coast deserted them, and the season ended in somewhat meek circumstances, smashed by 51 points. Unlike round 11, when Fraser Gehrig had been held goalless by Leo Barry, he was the matchwinner in September. He kicked six goals, on his way to 100 the week after against Port. Robert Harvey and Nick Riewoldt also starred for the opposition.
For the Swans, perhaps the most heartening thing to come from the match was the performance of Amon Buchanan. His 16 disposal, one goal performance was one of his best yet, and showed that he has seized his chance in 2004 and earned his spot as a regular in the Swans side. The performance sealed his spot in this year?s Troy Luff Medal top ten. Also performing strongly was Paul Bevan, who rose from obscurity through the rookie list to show that he will be a part of the Swans line-up for many years. Both players can be proud of their performances in 2004.
The votes:
5 ? Jude Bolton
4 ? Amon Buchanan
3 ? Paul Bevan
2 ? Brett Kirk
1 ? Stuart Maxfield
Well, that concludes the Troy Luff Medal for the year. Congratulations must go, obviously, to Barry Hall, who was ? in my opinion ? clearly the best player of the year. There is no shame in coming second to him, and Brett Kirk can also hold his head high. Ryan O?Keefe earned his third place; stepping up to the plate in the forward line with Michael O?Loughlin and Nick Davis missing extended parts of the season.
Jude Bolton, Leo Barry and Paul Williams once again led the way, Bevan and Buchanan, as mentioned, were the standout youngsters. Matthew Nicks resurrected his career. Late in the season, the Troy Luff Medal results showed the development of Luke Ablett and Stephen Doyle. Earlier, it was Heath James who showed that he has what it takes to repay the faith. For Ben Mathews, Jared Crouch and Craig Bolton, it was another season of doing what they do best, doing their jobs quietly and letting the accolades go to others, and yet they, too, received their deserved recognition when they performed at their best.
The Troy Luff Medal rewards only one player this year ? and he is the one who deserves it most ? but it recognises many.
The final voting tally:
60 ? Barry Hall
54 ? Brett Kirk
31 ? Ryan O?Keefe
29 ? Jude Bolton
27 ? Paul Williams
26 ? Leo Barry
17 ? Paul Bevan, Amon Buchanan
11 ? Adam Goodes, Matthew Nicks
10 ? Nick Davis, Tadhg Kennelly, Ben Mathews
9 ? Michael O?Loughlin, Stuart Maxfield
8 ? Luke Ablett, Jared Crouch
5 ? Craig Bolton, Heath James, Jason Saddington
4 ? Stephen Doyle
3 ? Nic Fosdike
2 ? Jason Ball
1 ? Adam Schneider
Charlie
As we head into September, Barry Hall has already won a Troy Luff Medal. Only one player can catch him ? and Brett Kirk cannot surpass Baz, only join him at the top. Regardless of the result of tonight?s votes, both players deserve our applause for their efforts in 2004. If Stuart Maxfield does indeed decide to step down from the captaincy, either player would be a worthy successor.
Here?s the leader board as at the end of the season:
60 ? Barry Hall
50 ? Brett Kirk
31 ? Ryan O?Keefe
26 ? Leo Barry
24 ? Jude Bolton
22 ? Paul Williams
14 ? Paul Bevan
13 ? Amon Buchanan
10 ? Nick Davis, Adam Goodes, Tadhg Kennelly, Ben Mathews
The club?s September campaign began well when they booked a home elimination final, but they were no doubt nervous about their opponents. Rather than drawing the up and down Bombers or Fremantle, it was the West Coast Eagles ? who had finished the home and away season with a rush after looking out of finals contention ? who finished seventh.
In round eight, at Subiaco, Phillip Matera had cut loose with five goals. The work of Matthew Nicks, however, would keep Matera kickless, and the Eagles as a whole could manage only four goals. West Coast started better, but couldn?t get the score on the board, kicking waywardly. As the heavens opened and put on a sound and light show that, on reflection, was much more entertaining than the Grand Final ?entertainment? three weeks later, the Swans wrested control in the second quarter. The storm got so close the game was almost called off at half time, which would have given the Swans a win.
Chris Judd threatened to cut loose in the second half, but not enough of his teammates stood up to support him. Like they so often did in 2004, the Swans closed the game down, coasting to a comfortable 41-point win. In the midfield, Paul Williams was the standout, gathering 31 possessions in one of his best games of the season.
The votes:
5 ? Paul Williams
4 ? Matthew Nicks
3 ? Craig Bolton
2 ? Brett Kirk
1 ? Adam Goodes
Well, that?s it. Brett Kirk?s season has been something to remember, and he thoroughly deserves his All-Australian selection and standout performance in the Brownlow Medal. This year, however, the Troy Luff Medal goes to Barry Hall! Congratulations to both players, for both of them certainly deserve it.
After their strong win, the Swans travelled to Melbourne for their first Friday night game of the season. In round eleven, the Swans had completely outclassed the then unbeaten Saints, and the week before Brisbane had dished out an almighty welcome to finals football to the young St Kilda side. The Swans went into the game as slight favourites, with the prize for winning being a preliminary final berth against Port Adelaide.
Unfortunately, however, it was not to be. The Swans crashed out in disappointing style; the confidence and ability they had shown in the wet against West Coast deserted them, and the season ended in somewhat meek circumstances, smashed by 51 points. Unlike round 11, when Fraser Gehrig had been held goalless by Leo Barry, he was the matchwinner in September. He kicked six goals, on his way to 100 the week after against Port. Robert Harvey and Nick Riewoldt also starred for the opposition.
For the Swans, perhaps the most heartening thing to come from the match was the performance of Amon Buchanan. His 16 disposal, one goal performance was one of his best yet, and showed that he has seized his chance in 2004 and earned his spot as a regular in the Swans side. The performance sealed his spot in this year?s Troy Luff Medal top ten. Also performing strongly was Paul Bevan, who rose from obscurity through the rookie list to show that he will be a part of the Swans line-up for many years. Both players can be proud of their performances in 2004.
The votes:
5 ? Jude Bolton
4 ? Amon Buchanan
3 ? Paul Bevan
2 ? Brett Kirk
1 ? Stuart Maxfield
Well, that concludes the Troy Luff Medal for the year. Congratulations must go, obviously, to Barry Hall, who was ? in my opinion ? clearly the best player of the year. There is no shame in coming second to him, and Brett Kirk can also hold his head high. Ryan O?Keefe earned his third place; stepping up to the plate in the forward line with Michael O?Loughlin and Nick Davis missing extended parts of the season.
Jude Bolton, Leo Barry and Paul Williams once again led the way, Bevan and Buchanan, as mentioned, were the standout youngsters. Matthew Nicks resurrected his career. Late in the season, the Troy Luff Medal results showed the development of Luke Ablett and Stephen Doyle. Earlier, it was Heath James who showed that he has what it takes to repay the faith. For Ben Mathews, Jared Crouch and Craig Bolton, it was another season of doing what they do best, doing their jobs quietly and letting the accolades go to others, and yet they, too, received their deserved recognition when they performed at their best.
The Troy Luff Medal rewards only one player this year ? and he is the one who deserves it most ? but it recognises many.
The final voting tally:
60 ? Barry Hall
54 ? Brett Kirk
31 ? Ryan O?Keefe
29 ? Jude Bolton
27 ? Paul Williams
26 ? Leo Barry
17 ? Paul Bevan, Amon Buchanan
11 ? Adam Goodes, Matthew Nicks
10 ? Nick Davis, Tadhg Kennelly, Ben Mathews
9 ? Michael O?Loughlin, Stuart Maxfield
8 ? Luke Ablett, Jared Crouch
5 ? Craig Bolton, Heath James, Jason Saddington
4 ? Stephen Doyle
3 ? Nic Fosdike
2 ? Jason Ball
1 ? Adam Schneider
Charlie
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