AFL defenders will finally get their plaudits with the Coaches Association unearthing a new award for the first time this year.
Brownlow and Coleman Medals are geared towards midfielders and forwards who dominate a given season, with the trusty backmen always being overlooked.
The AFLCA currently has the Champion Player of the Year, the Best Emerging Player and the Gary Ayres Medal (Best Finals Player), and now they'll have the Best Defensive Player.
Coaches have been asked to fill in votes for two players, including the opposition, for the best defensive player per game.
“We have the coach votes - who the coaches think the best player of the year is,” AFLCA CEO Alistair Nicholson said on SEN.
“That's now recognised as a really well thought of award.
“One of the things we talked to senior coaches about last year was defence and the defensive aspect of the game playing such an important part, and how do we recognise that.
“We ran a pilot last year where the coaches voted on who they thought was the best defensive player. It's quite a broad category so we just basically say, ‘Who do you think has had the best impact from a defensive point of view?'. It might mean effective tackles, spoils, stopping a quality opponent, intercept marks, defensive running patterns - whatever it is.
“This year we have run it formally with the idea that at the All-Australian awards and our awards we announce it.
“Some of the names that are in the mix are not necessarily going to get lots of Brownlow votes, but it's good recognition.”
Tom McCartin, Daniel Turner, Callum Wilkie, Ryan Lester, Harris Andrews and Geelong duo Oisin Mullin and Connor O'Sullivan are among some of the better-performing defenders in the competition, and are in the running for the inaugural award, according to Nicholson.
“We will, at the end of the year, get who the coaches think have been the best defensive players across the league,” Nicholson added.
“Coaches talk so much about the defensive aspect of the game, so we can recognise that.
“Hopefully we can build that in prestige over the coming years.”
The award, which will be in the form of a medal, will be awarded at the conclusion of the 2026 season.
