2017 Coleman Medal Preview
A hundred goal season might be a thing of the past, with teams looking for multiple goalkicking options and extra defenders, however the Coleman Medal race is as intriguing as ever. Unlike the Brownlow, being part of a winning team is not a necessity and the evolution of the modern full-forward means small forwards are now a chance. These are the players to watch out for in 2017.
The Contenders
Josh Kennedy ($3.75) Kennedy has won the last two Coleman Medals. Last year’s tally of 80 was the highest since 2009. He has strong hands and even though his kicks swing through the air a bit, it generally goes through the goals instead of the points. He will get plenty of supply again from the Eagles midfield and he will be a threat again in 2017. Lance Franklin ($4) Buddy already has three Colemans next to his name; 2008, 2011 and 2014. He is a unique player and different to most tall forwards. He is fast, agile and superb when the ball is on the ground, but his contested marking is only okay. His field kicking is elite, but his goalkicking is inconsistent. The one certainty is he will have plenty of shots on goal, even if he spends time up the ground. He is a real chance for his fourth Coleman. Tom Lynch ($6.50) Lynch has developed into a key player and leader at the Gold Coast Suns. He shone last year with his excellent marking, height and running ability. He proved to be a fairly reliable shot for goal with 66 goals and 34 points last year. With the emergence of Peter Wright and the possibility of Gary Ablett spending more time up forward, I’m not sure if Lynch can replicate last season. Jeremy Cameron ($8) The Giant superstar burst onto the scene during his first two years in the AFL. Since then he has received support from Jon Patton, Rory Lobb and Steve Johnson. That support made the Giants a more formable outfit, but it took away from Cameron’s ability to consistently kick bags of goals. With that being said, I’m anticipating plenty of goals from the Giants in 2017 and Cameron will be sharing a piece of the pie. Jack Riewoldt ($12) Riewoldt won the Coleman Medal in 2010 and 2012. Since then he became more flexible and can now play a variety of roles. His goalkicking numbers might have dropped but it helped the team as Richmond made finals three years in a row. Richmond’s forward line will be different in 2017 with the departure of Ty Vickery, but whether that means Riewoldt spends more time closer to goal is up to the coaching group. Eddie Betts ($15) Betts is a constant highlight reel. He takes hangers, kicks miracle goals, weaves his way out of trouble and brings the crowd alight. He has developed his consistently, especially since crossing to Adelaide, and makes the most of his opportunities. He is part of a strong Adelaide forward line with Taylor Walker, Josh Jenkins and Tom Lynch all capable of kicking multiple goals.
The Roughie
Tom Hawkins ($21) The big Cat will once again be a goalkicking threat in 2017. He finished third in the 2014 Coleman Medal, then experienced a difficult 2015 with the death of his mother and kicked over 50 goals last season even though he admitted form issues. He is a one positional player and the key figure in Geelong’s forward line. He is arguably the best one-on-one contested mark in the game and his goalkicking is now pretty reliable. For the latest BlueBet AFL Coleman Medal market, click here. Words: Rhys Thurston
