The Coleman Medal has been a hotly contested prize for the past couple of decades, with only three players managing to win back-to-back honours since the turn of the century.
Claim your 1xbet bonus for all the latest odds on the 2021 Coleman Medal as the competition is set to resume back to a much more normal season compared to last.
Here are the top six favourites for the 2021 Coleman Medal.
1. Tom J. Lynch
The favourite to take out the Coleman Medal in 2021 is the ever-polarising Tom J. Lynch. The Tigers’ tall timber has had, on a personal level, a relatively steady start to life at Punt Road.
Finishing third and sixth in his two seasons at Richmond, Lynch is a huge threat for opposition players with his aerial marking ability coupled with his set shots. Maligned by opposition fans for his conduct on occasions, there is no questioning the talent that Lynch brings to the table. If the Tigers continue on with their dynasty and manage to win the flag again in 2021, expect Lynch to be at the forefront of it all, perhaps picking up his first Coleman of his career.
2. Tom Hawkins
Tom Hawkins had an incredible season 2020, winning the Coleman Medal and so nearly winning the premiership. Surprisingly, 2020 was Hawkins’ first Coleman, despite the 32-year-old recording 50+ goals in six of the last nine seasons.
Despite this, 2021 will present a new challenge for the big man having to now share a forward-line with newcomer Jeremy Cameron. If the two can find a way to gel, then expect nothing but good things for the Cats. On the other hand, if they cannot, then there could be headaches for Chris Scott’s side. Hawkins is always due for a big season, so fans should expect for him to be at the pointy end of the Coleman leader board.
3. Charlie Dixon
The Port Adelaide big man had his best season of his career in 2020 as he carried his team to their first minor premiership in more than a decade and to a prelim final. Despite not winning the Coleman, he had an incredibly dominant year, consistently outmuscling his opponents and kicking bags of goals.
However, last season was arguably a flash in the pan in terms of Dixon’s final position on the Coleman leader board, with the key forward tending not to put up numbers good enough to win the award in seasons gone. His position this far up the table was surely based off bookies taking into consideration last season, however if he continues where he left off, anything is possible for Charlie.
4. Jeremy Cameron
The lethal forward has evolved into one of the game’s true elite spearheads, and his move to Kardinia Park has solidified the Cats forward-line as one of the most devastating in the league.
His season 2020, much like his side’s, left a lot to be desired, however a move to the Cats where he is guaranteed expert service from the like of Dangerfield, Selwood, Duncan and co. will almost certainly deliver him goals week in week out. Despite recording high numbers and coming close to winning the award on multiple occasions, Cameron won his first Coleman in 2019, and will be looking to have his second by season’s end.
5. Josh J. Kennedy
Josh J. Kennedy has consistently been at the pointy end of the Coleman Medal tally since the start of the 2010’s and is one of those special three to have won the award back-to-back since the beginning of the 21st century.
His last few years have not been extraordinary by his lofty standards in terms of total goals, which probably is why the bookies have him on the low end of the top five. However, there is no doubting Kennedy’s ability, and despite him getting on in age, he is still a huge force down forwards for the Eagles and will always make an impact.
6. Jack Darling
One of the Eagles twin towers down forward, Jack Darling is a massively integral part of Adam Simpson’s kick-mark game style which has been successful in recent years. His athleticism and great over-head marking ability has allowed for him to thrive in attack, however he has never truly been in the genuine challenger area of the Coleman Medal tally like how his teammate Josh Kennedy has.
If Darling is to win the award in season 2021, he will have to pull off an almighty effort, the likes of which we would have not seen from him so far in his career.
