We've reached the midway mark of the 2022 AFL season, and in this chapter we reveal our mid-season awards.
The opening half of year has offered plenty of thrills and spills, with each club forging an identity as we begin to work through the final stretch of this premiership race.
Individuals have stuck their neck out in contention for particular awards, and here we detail who may be leading the honours as we turn to the second half of the season.
Without further ado, we name our All-Australian side, Brownlow Medal winner, Rising Star winner, Most Improved Player of the Year, Recruit of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Coach of the Year from the first half of the 2022 season.
Defensive Player of the Year
Steven May (Melbourne)
The All-Australian defender has backed up his stellar premiership campaign in red and blue with a career-best season to date.
The former Sun has held down the fort for Simon Godwin's defensive structure and will continue to play a key role on the Demons' last line as they defend their title as the standard of the competition.
May sits head and shoulders above the next best backman for one-on-one defending despite often taking on the toughest scalp the opposition has to offer.
Defender
Disposals
Marks
Rebound50s
While being able to negate opposition attacks, May is also an apt mover of the ball out of defensive, acting like a slingshot for the reigning premiers.
Worthy of a mention: Tom Stewart, Jacob Weitering, James Sicily, Sam Docherty
