Mark of the Year explained

Mark of the Year
Awarded For:The best mark taken each season in the Australian Football League
Presenter:Australian Football League
Country:Australia
Year:2001
Holder:Harry Himmelberg
Website:afl.com.au/mark-of-the-year
Sponsor:Four'N Twenty
Related:Goal of the Year

In Australian rules football, a player can take a mark by catching the ball from a kick, which earns protection from tackles. In the Australian Football League (AFL), the mark subjectively judged the best in each season is named Mark of the Year.

The award is almost always given to spectacular marks – those where one player jumps upon another's back to reach the ball. Although there are no formal rules prescribing what a good mark is, some important factors are how high the player leaps, how long he stays in the air, whether his catch is clean, whether he catches the ball with extended arms, and how dramatic his fall is.[1]

The competition was inspired by a famous mark taken by Carlton's Alex Jesaulenko in the 1970 VFL grand final. Following Jesaulenko's mark, two football television shows – Channel Seven's World of Sport and The Winners on the ABC – began awarding the title "mark of the year" to the best marks as judged by their panels of football experts. The two shows would often choose different winners. Seven's award was more prestigious because the winning player received a car, but the ABC's edition only bestowed lesser prizes like mugs and bicycles – a disparity bemoaned by several players who only won the latter.

The award is run in conjunction with the Goal of the Year contest, which recognises the best goal kicked during an AFL season. Two players have won both the mark and goal awards in the same season: Peter Bosustow (1981) and Michael Mitchell (1990).

History

The competition was initiated following Alex Jesaulenko's mark over Graeme "Jerker" Jenkin in the 1970 VFL Grand Final and later recognised officially as the Mark of the Year;[2] the medal awarded to the winner now bears his name.[3] [4] During the 1970s and early 1980s, the award was decided by a panel of football experts on Seven's World of Sport. During the 1980s and 1990s, the winning mark was determined by selected football journalists and experts. With minor modifications, the current selection process was first used in the 1998 season.[5]

In 2001, the AFL itself began operating an official Mark of the Year award in competition with Seven, which became the more prominent award. Certain sources, like the AFL Record Season Guide, only acknowledge these official winners as having taken Marks of the Year. Chris Tarrant's mark in Round 10, 2001, was previously used as the basis of the silhouette for the Mark of the Year logo despite, ironically, being beaten to the honour by Gary Moorcroft's Round 14 mark, considered by many to be one of the best marks of all time.

Eligibility and prizes

The competition is open to players in the AFL, Australian rules football's highest league.[6] Winners currently receive a prize of $10,000 and the Alex Jesaulenko Medal.[7]

For the majority of the competition's existence, the overall winner has been rewarded with a car, typically the model of whichever auto manufacturer was sponsoring the award at the time. In 1983, 's Ken Hunter won a Holden Commodore SL/X for his mark of the year.[8] The following year's winner, 's Wayne Carroll, scored a Nissan Bluebird TRX for his efforts. 's Michael Mitchell received a Ford Laser in 1990 for his win following a phone-in poll that attracted 250,000 callers.[9] Throughout Toyota Australia's sponsorship of the competition in the mid-2000s, players were often granted use of the latest Toyota vehicle (such as the Kluger or Aurion) for 12 months, alongside a $5,000 donation to their grassroots club.[10] [11]

Such is the ongoing public association between taking mark of the year and winning "the car", multiple players have believed such a prize was still awarded more than a decade after its cessation.[12] [13]

Selection process

After each round of the regular AFL season, three "mark of the week" nominations are selected by the AFL. Members of the public are then invited to vote for a weekly winner on the AFL website. Weekly polls can occasionally be subject to vote brigading by supporters of larger clubs, which has led to highly favoured marks being overlooked for the weekly prize by more underwhelming nominations.[14] Under the current sponsorship arrangement with Four'n Twenty, weekly voters go in the draw to win $5,000, a pie warmer and a year's worth of meat pies.

After the regular season's end, the title is given to a single mark;[15] at times the eligibility process has extended into the finals series. The potential winner is not restricted to players who won mark of the week; indeed, in 2010, the two favourites both came in round 21, and although the public voted Brendon Goddard as mark of the week, the selection panel named Liam Jurrah as mark of the year. As of 2023, the AFL game analysis committee selects the three finalists from a list of 29 (the 24 weekly winners, plus five additional marks selected by AFL Media) based on a 5-4-3-2-1 vote given by each member of the committee.

The overall winner, currently announced on Brownlow Medal night, is then determined by a combination of committee voting (counted for 10 votes) and public voting (counted for one vote). At one stage, the overall winner was determined purely by the public, which led to widespread outrage in 2017 when 's Joe Daniher took out the title over a mark taken by 's Jeremy Howe which many deemed to be one of the greatest of all time.[16] Howe's manager at the time claimed that his player lost up to $40,000 in endorsements and image rights based on the unexpected loss.[17] The league amended the voting process following the public debate.[18]

Annual winners

Official recipients

Table of winners[19]
YearWinnerClubOppositionRd.Venue
2001 14Docklands Stadium
2002 17Melbourne Cricket Ground
2003 18Docklands Stadium
2004 7Melbourne Cricket Ground
2005 3Subiaco Oval
2006 5Stadium Australia
200717Docklands Stadium
200818Melbourne Cricket Ground
200922Docklands Stadium
201021Football Park
20119Docklands Stadium
20128Sydney Cricket Ground
201314Football Park
201412Adelaide Oval
20159Subiaco Oval
201618Docklands Stadium
201717Docklands Stadium
201821Melbourne Cricket Ground
20199Perth Stadium
20207Gabba
20218Melbourne Cricket Ground
202216Perth Stadium
20231Giants Stadium

Channel Seven and ABC recipients

Table of winners
YearWinnerClubOppositionRd.Venue
1971
1972
1973 21Waverley Park[20] [21]
19749Melbourne Cricket Ground
1975
1976 (2)16Victoria Park
1977
1978 18Princes Park[22] [23] [24]
1979 (Seven)[25]
(ABC)5Melbourne Cricket Ground
1980
1981 18Princes Park[26]
1982 (ABC)2Melbourne Cricket Ground
1983 (Seven)1Princes Park[27]
(ABC)[28]
1984 (Seven)16Sydney Cricket Ground[29] [30]
(ABC)10Western Oval
1985 5Kardinia Park[31]
1986 (Seven)Melbourne Cricket Ground[32]
(ABC)5Waverley Park[33]
1987 (ABC)10Sydney Cricket Ground[34]
1988 14Melbourne Cricket Ground[35]
198916Melbourne Cricket Ground[36]
1990 5Melbourne Cricket Ground[37]
1991 11Melbourne Cricket Ground[38] [39]
1992 16Melbourne Cricket Ground[40]
1993 8Football Park
1994 (2)7Melbourne Cricket Ground[41]
1995 22The Gabba[42]
1996 8Football Park[43]
1997 (2)17Football Park[44]
1998 18Manuka Oval[45]
1999 1Melbourne Cricket Ground[46]
2000 (3)1Subiaco Oval

Similar competitions

State leagues such as the South Australian National Football League and the West Australian Football League hold their own mark of the year competitions each season, with public voting determining the overall winner.[47] [48] Many other semi-professional and amateur Australian rules football leagues also run an equivalent competition, with the increasing prevalence of league-wide web broadcasting allowing for a more comprehensive nomination process.[49] [50] Nation-wide promotions are also intermittently run, encouraging local footballers of all age groups to submit their home videos.[51]

Notes and References

  1. News: Atkinson . Cody . Lawson . Sean . 2023-05-24 . GWS high flyer Harry Himmelberg, his road to the AFL, and what goes into taking a speccie? . . 2023-07-10.
  2. Web site: 2020-08-18 . AFL Mark of the Year Winners . 2023-08-28 . . en.
  3. Book: Childs . Kevin . 100 Years of Australian Football 1897 - 1996 . Weiniger . Peter . Dunn . Roger . Hutchinson . Alex . Cash . Damien . Duhengoh . Ron . Penguin Books Australia Ltd – The Viking Press . 1996 . 978-1854714343 . John Ross . 1st . Ringwood, Victoria, Australia . 383 . Garrie Hutchinson.
  4. Web site: You beauty! Jezza made an AFL legend . Broad . Ben . 8 May 2008 . AFL.com.au . 2008-11-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080725014753/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=59337 . 25 July 2008 .
  5. Book: McLeod. Andrew. Trevor D.. Jaques. Australian Football: Steps to Success. Human Kinetics. 2006. 0-7360-6005-7. 192 pages.
  6. Harding . Mike . 3 May 1995 . Bare, Bald and Blue . Sports Weekly.
  7. Web site: 2022-09-18 . 2022 Four'N Twenty Mark of the Year - Mitch Georgiades . 2023-08-28 . . en.
  8. News: Pierek . Jon . 26 July 2021 . AFL mark of the year battle rises to another level . . 9 July 2023.
  9. News: Wilson . George . 1990-10-07 . Maggie-nificent . 61 . .
  10. Web site: 2007-08-07 . Bateman earns Toyota AFL Mark of the Year nomination . 2023-08-28 . . en.
  11. Web site: Rowston . Craig . 2008-10-08 . Lloyd wins mark of the year . 2023-08-28 . . en.
  12. Web site: Foster . Brendan . 2017-05-25 . Dude, where's my car? NicNat not impressed by mark of the year prize . 2023-08-28 . . en.
  13. Web site: Cotton . Ben . 2023-05-16 . 'Thought I was getting a car!' Crows young gun stitched up by his own coaches . 2023-08-28 . . en.
  14. News: 2021-05-13 . Shai Bolton overlooked after Magpies fans hijack AFL mark of the year vote . en-GB . . . 2023-08-28 . 0261-3077.
  15. Web site: 2023-08-28 . Mark of the Year: Prizes and Terms . 2023-08-28 . . en.
  16. Web site: Waterworth . Ben . 2017-09-26 . Outrage as Jeremy Howe snubbed for 2017 AFL Mark of the Year, won by Essendon's Joe Daniher . 2023-08-28 . . en.
  17. Web site: Pierik . Jon . Lerner . Ronny . 2017-09-26 . Jeremy Howe missing out on AFL Mark of the Year left many scratching their heads . 2023-08-28 . . en.
  18. Web site: Ralph . Jon . 2018-02-20 . AFL to unveil a new Mark of the Year judging process after Jeremy Howe debacle . subscription . 2023-08-28 . . en-AU.
  19. Book: AFL Record Season Guide 2023: official statistical history of the AFL . . 2023 . 978-0-6456573-0-2 . Lovett . Michael . 649 . AFL Mark of the Year: Alex Jesaulenko Medal.
  20. News: McFarlane . Glenn . 17 July 2019 . Sensational Seventies: Alan Atkinson . . 8 July 2023.
  21. News: Mason . Luke . 27 September 2013 . A history of Collingwood's Marks of the Year . . 8 July 2023.
  22. News: Keane . Patrick . 14 June 2022 . From flag skipper to AFL chairman: Fitzpatrick inducted into Hall of Fame . . 8 July 2023.
  23. News: 19 March 2007 . Seven greats inducted . . 8 July 2023.
  24. Web site: Round 18: Match stats . AFL Tables . 8 July 2023.
  25. News: Greenburg . Tony . 30 July 2015 . 50 years of MCG memories: Michael Roach's remarkable mark in 1979 . . 8 July 2023.
  26. News: De Bolfo . Tony . 21 November 2017 . Moment 10: Buzz's '81 double . . 9 July 2023.
  27. News: Pierek . Jon . 26 July 2021 . AFL mark of the year battle rises to another level . . 9 July 2023.
  28. News: Zurbo . Matt . Almanac Footy Books (and Lunches): An extract from Matt Zurbo's 'Heart & Soul' – Ken Hunter . 9 July 2023 . The Footy Almanac . 6 June 2019.
  29. News: Main . Jim . Jim Main . 25 July 2011 . Swan Songs: with Wayne Carroll . . 8 July 2023.
  30. News: McFarlane . Glenn . Banks robbed of Mark of the Year . . 8 July 2023.
  31. News: Ryan . Peter . 28 April 2020 . The Man who helped Ablett and Capper to fly high . . 9 July 2023.
  32. Eva . Bruce . 16 September 2011 . Soaring Swan . . Melbourne . . 81 . 7 July 2023.
  33. Eva . Bruce . 20 April 2011 . Answering the ANZAC Day call . . Melbourne . . 62 . 7 July 2023.
  34. News: Collins . Ben . 8 September 2017 . The day 'The Wiz' rocked Waverley . . 8 July 2023.
  35. News: Wright . Gerald . 25 August 1997 . No escape this time as Swans' minds wander . 27 . . ... CV includes the Mark of the Year in 1988 when he majestically ascended over Collingwood's Craig Starcevich to meet the footy about 4m above the MCG turf ....
  36. News: Ryan . Peter . 30 June 2021 . 'Like father, like son': How Hawk high-flyer took Buckley back to 1989 . . 9 July 2023.
  37. News: Greenburg . Tony . 23 May 2017 . Michael Mitchell a Homecoming Hero . . 9 July 2023.
  38. News: Woodhams . Paul . 26 April 2009 . Canberrans mark their territory . 79 . . ... Allison won mark of the year in 1991 for a huge jump against Collingwood at the MCG..
  39. News: Ryan . Peter . 12 December 2020 . New Saint's family tree is full of premiership branches . . 10 July 2023.
  40. News: Nice . Chris . 3 July 2019 . On This Day: Nicky Winmar takes Mark of the Year . . 9 July 2023.
  41. News: Fine . Mark . 27 June 2011 . Footy Lists . . 10 July 2023.
  42. News: 12 August 2022 . Remember when... The Bears made finals for the first time? . . 10 July 2023.
  43. News: 14 August 2013 . Footy Park: 1994-96 . . 10 July 2023.
  44. News: Shilton . Bryce . 14 June 2017 . On this day: Mods wins Mark of the Year . . 10 July 2023.
  45. News: Woods . Dan . 12 October 2021 . Trade Flashback: Winston Abraham . . 10 July 2023.
  46. News: Trantino . Julian . 18 October 2015 . Top Trades: #4 - Matthew Lappin . . 10 July 2023.
  47. Web site: Milbank . Zac . 2021-10-06 . Cameron Craig wins Skilled Careers Mark of the Year . 2023-08-28 . . en-US.
  48. Web site: Readings . Mark . 2022-09-30 . 2022 WAFL Mark and Goal of the Year winners . 2023-08-28 . West Australian Football Commission.
  49. Web site: 2013-09-13 . VAFA mark of the year finalists . 2023-08-28 . . en-AU.
  50. Web site: 2022-09-06 . It's time to vote for the 2022 Harvey Norman Mark of the Year! . 2023-08-28 . . AFL Barwon . en.
  51. Web site: Jackson . Deborah . 2022-04-05 . Four'N Twenty returns with Local Legends Mark of the Week . 2023-08-28 . Convenience & Impulse Retailing . en-US.