Voting for the Magpie Army Player of the Year Award is underway for 2015.
Collingwood Media looks at the performances of some of the players who were among the best in Collingwood round 16 clash with West Coast under the Etihad Stadium roof.
Collingwood’s top performers
22. Steele Sidebottom
Statistics: 20 kicks, 18 handballs, 38 disposals, 6 rebound 50s, 7 marks.
Saturday’s twilight fixture against West Coast marked the third time in three straight weeks Sidebottom has collected 30-plus disposals. This week’s 38-possession game was the equal highest tally of the midfielder’s career, with him posting an identical number against Geelong in round eight, 2012. Fast forward three years and the 24-year-old is now equal with Swan and Pendlebury as Collingwood’s premium. 23 of his possessions came in the middle stages of the game, with 11 and 12 on either side of half time.
26. Marley Williams
Statistics: 20 kicks, 13 handballs, 33 disposals, 13 contested possessions, 9 rebound 50s.
Speaking of career-highs, 33 disposals was the highest Williams has collected in his 51-game career. The tough defender proved the link between defence and attack for the Magpies and was often the catalyst for a Collingwood drive into the forward line. 17 of disposals came in the middle of the ground with the other 16 occurred in the defensive 50. Williams had nine rebound 90s – another career high.
25. Jack Crisp
Statistics: 12 kicks, 19 handballs, 31 disposals, 5 tackles, 11 contested possessions.
Career-high alert. Yet 31 disposals from Crisp only tells half the story. Playing predominantly in the midfield, he was once again given a role on marking a highly-touted opposition player. Saturday’s challenge was Luke Shuey and no doubt will be left in anyone’s mind that Crisp was the victor. He restricted Shuey to just 13 disposals while finding the ball 31 times on his own. Nick Maxwell named him the player of the week on ‘Monday’s With Maxy’, saying his ability to find the scoreboard also adds to the ex-Brisbane midfielder’s appeal.
18. Travis Varcoe
Statistics: 7 kicks, 13 handballs, 20 disposals, 2 goal assists, 6 tackles.
Varcoe had 20 impressive disposals against the Eagles, yet it was his outstanding tackling pressure that stood out during the match at Etihad Stadium. West Coast’s midfielders and forwards either didn’t hear his lightning-paced footsteps catching up on them, or they couldn’t shake him when he met them front on. The 27-year-old’s second and third efforts were impressive, in particular a tackle followed by a quick handball that resulted in a Steele Sidebottom goal.
How the voting system works
Head to fansmvp.afl.com.au/collingwoodfc/ and register your account. Then, assign three votes to the player you deem to be the best Collingwood player for the game, two votes to the second best player and one vote to the third best.
About the Magpie Army Player of the Year Award
The Magpie Army Player of the Year Award is received by the player deemed the most influential of the season by the Collingwood supporters each year.
In 2015, two tickets are on offer to the E.W. Copeland Trophy Dinner in October for those who cast their vote during the season.
The winner, selected at random, will be afforded the opportunity to present the Magpie Army Player of the Year Award to the winning player, plus receive a photograph with the winner following the presentation.
