Brisbane, Hawthorn and Adelaide are the leading contenders for the coveted McClelland Trophy as the AFLW season nears its conclusion.

The award hands the winning club a $1 million prize to be split evenly between the men’s and women’s football programs.

Following each respective finals series for both competitions, clubs are assigned a ranking from 1 to 18 in reverse order – the team claiming the premiership securing 18 points, down to the 18th team receiving 1 point.

In the AFL, Brisbane saluted for the second consecutive season, meaning they received the maximum of 18 points. West Coast claimed the wooden spoon as well as a measly solitary point.

Currently in the AFLW competition, North Melbourne and Melbourne rank the highest, with the Kangaroos currently undefeated after 10 rounds.

However, following closely behind are the Hawks and Lions to round out the top four of the ladder, providing them with more points contributed to the McClelland Trophy race.

As it stands, Brisbane (33) holds a two-point lead over Hawthorn (31), while Adelaide (26)  needs a big finish to its women’s season to be a chance.

The Crows sit seventh on the ladder with two weeks remaining before finals, and will need to remain in the hunt for a premiership to be in contention for the major prize.

AFL
AFLW (Round 10)
Leaders

18 – Brisbane
18 – North Melbourne
33 – Brisbane

17 – Geelong
17 – Melbourne
31 – Hawthorn

16 – Collingwood
16 – Hawthorn
26 – Adelaide

15 – Hawthorn
15 – Brisbane
23 – Geelong

14 – Adelaide
14 – St Kilda
22 – Melbourne

13 – Gold Coast Suns
13 – West Coast
21 – St Kilda

12 – GWS Giants
12 – Adelaide

11 – Fremantle
11 – Carlton
20 – Fremantle

10 – Western Bulldogs
10 – Sydney
19 – Carlton

9 – Sydney
9 – Fremantle
19 – Sydney

8 – Carlton
8 – Western Bulldogs

7 – St Kilda
7 – Port Adelaide

6 – Port Adelaide
6 – Geelong
16 – GWS Giants

5 – Melbourne
5 – Essendon
14 – Gold Coast Suns

4 – Essendon
4 – GWS Giants
14 – West Coast

3 – North Melbourne
3 – Richmond

2 – Richmond
2 – Collingwood
9 – Essendon

1 – West Coast
1 – Gold Coast Suns
5 – Richmond

 

The McClelland Trophy was introduced to football ahead of the 2023 season, but has undergone recent change.

The award initially favoured home and away season results, which put into question who the deserved winner was.

Melbourne won the inaugural trophy after strong campaigns across both football sides despite not winning the premiership in either competition. They finished second in the women’s competition and fourth in the men’s. Both teams exited in straight sets.

In 2023, Brisbane lost the men’s premiership to Collingwood in the grand final, but saluted in the women’s with a 17-point win over North Melbourne.

Hawthorn was the 2024 recipient of the trophy following a second-place finish in AFLW and a seventh-place finish in the men’s league.

Ironically, the Hawks lost the semi-final to Port Adelaide in both games. Once again, Brisbane would go on to play in both deciders for a pair of mixed results. The men’s defeated Sydney while the women’s were avenged by the Kangaroos.

It forced a change to the criteria.

McClelland Trophy adjustments:

At the conclusion of finals for each competition, each club will be assigned a ranking from 1 to 18 in reverse order, with the team finishing first receiving 18 points, down to the team finishing 18th receiving 1 point. The highest combined ranking score will win the trophy.
Where two teams are knocked out in the same week of finals, the club that finished higher on the ladder at the end of the home and away season will be given a higher ranking (consistent with the methodology used for the draft order and weighted rule).
In the event that two or more clubs have the equal highest combined ranking score, the current methodology will be used as a tiebreaker – i.e. number of trophy points and then combined percentage.