EXPERT TIPS

Jake Niall

Winner: Nick Daicos
Runner-up: Marcus Bontempelli
Roughie: Zach Merrett
Nick Daicos was my pre-season pick, and he stood out even more this year than last. It’s hard to see him missing the podium. Like many, I’ll be barracking for The Bont with the only query being whether Adam Treloar purloins votes from the champ. Zach Merrett is nearly Essendon’s best player every time they win.

Emma Kearney

Winner: Nick Daicos
Runner-up: Patrick Cripps
Roughie: Caleb Serong
All three midfielders had outstanding years, and were their side’s’ dominant mids. Daicos has had a consistent year and is very eye-catching to the umpires given his class on the outside.

Greg Baum

Winner: Marcus Bontempelli
Runner-up: Nick Daicos
Roughie: Jason Horne-Francis
Bontempelli’s best games were standouts, and the Bulldogs won enough games for him to get other votes consistently. Carlton’s late-season collapse will hurt Patrick Cripps’ hopes.

Andrew Wu

Winner: Patrick Cripps and Nick Daicos
Runner-up: Lachie Neale
Roughie: Errol Gulden
I’m tipping joint winners on the night for the first time since 2003. Both midfielders were standouts in sides that won more than they lost and were rarely beaten by big margins. Lachie Neale always polls well, and Errol Gulden was as prolific this year as last.

Sam McClure

Winner: Patrick Cripps
Runner-up: Lachie Neale
Roughie: Caleb Serong
Patrick Cripps had, individually, an epic season which only went under the radar due to his team’s cataclysmic fall away. Lachie Neale will storm home but I expect the Blues captain to win his second.

Peter Ryan

Winner: Nick Daicos
Runner-up: Lachie Neale
Roughie: Max Holmes
When Nick Daicos plays well he dominates, meaning he will rack up threes. Lachie Neale’s middle part of the season was exceptional with Patrick Cripps also close. Holmes was Geelong’s best player and will poll well.

Marc McGowan

Winner: Nick Daicos
Runner-up: Patrick Cripps
Roughie: Tom Green
Daicos was brilliant again in 2024, with a knee injury arguably all that stopped him winning last year. Cripps is an obvious threat, while Green won a stack of the Sherrin.

Kane Cornes

Winner: Nick Daicos
Runner-up: Lachie Neale
Roughie: Zak Butters
Daicos is the obvious choice and due to him missing out through injury [last year] the umpires will favour him when tossing up between him and other influential players on game day. More midfield minutes this season will equal more votes.

Michael Gleeson

Winner: Nick Daicos
Runner-up: Marcus Bontempelli
Roughie: Jai Newcombe
Daicos’ last game of the year in the dead-rubber win over Melbourne, when he ran around and made sure of three votes, could give him the edge. Patrick Cripps had a good year but the Blues tapering at the end of season will make it hard. The Dogs won enough for The Bont to get votes.

Jon Pierik

Winner: Nick Daicos
Runner-up: Patrick Cripps
Roughie: Caleb Serong
This shapes as an extremely tight tussle between Daicos and Cripps, and we may well have joint winners. Cripps will start well, before Daicos gets going between rounds eight and 12. There could be four best on grounds for the Magpie from round 18 (Cripps may have three), which may be enough for Daicos to salute.

Libby Birch

Winner: Patrick Cripps
Runner-up: Marcus Bontempelli
Roughie: Jason Horne-Francis
In a year where Carlton stumbled, Cripps consistently stood up and was a standout particularly in the second half of the year.

Marnie Vinall

Winner: Nick Daicos
Runner-up: Caleb Serong
Roughie: Zach Merrett
Although it’s hard not putting Marcus Bontempelli up there, Nick Daicos had a standout year. He was rough to miss out last year due to a late injury. Essendon may have had a less than ideal season, and Merrett didn’t even make the All-Australian team, but he consistently played well.