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<\/a><\/p>\nBy now, you\u2019d be aware that we do things a little differently at The Mongrel Punt.<\/p>\n
While each of us has our own opinion on a player, team, or award, it is important that we take into account all points of view when deciding something like our player of the year. I have my own ideas about whom it should be, but so does every person who writes for us.<\/p>\n
As such, each writer onboard this year was given an equal opportunity to feed into this award.<\/p>\n
The system is as follows.<\/p>\n
Players are ranked from 1-10, with first being worth ten points, second with nine points, and so on.<\/p>\n
Each set of ten players must include at least one ruckman, two defenders, and two forwards, meaning that we get a great spread of players across all positions. If someone feels like having three defenders, then no probs, but unlike every single other award out there, there is a hard limit on the number of midfielders you can have in your top ten. We\u2019re not the All-Australian selectors \u2013 we are not trying to shoehorn midfielders in because we\u2019re too bloody weak to leave them out.<\/p>\n
What we end up with is a points-based system where we find our player of the year amongst the responses of ten contributors.<\/p>\n
This year, 22 players received votes, again reflecting just how differently we all see the game, as a whole.<\/p>\n
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Here are the winners from previous seasons.<\/p>\n
2018 \u2013 Max Gawn<\/p>\n
2019 \u2013 Patrick Dangerfield<\/p>\n
2020 \u2013 Lachie Neale<\/p>\n
2021 \u2013 Ollie Wines<\/p>\n
2022 \u2013 Lachie Neale<\/p>\n
2023 \u2013 Marcus Bontempelli<\/p>\n
2024 \u2013 Isaac Heeney\/Marcus Bontempelli<\/p>\n
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Dirty bloody midfielders\u2026 I concoct a way where I level the playing field, and they still win!<\/p>\n
Anyway, after compiling all the numbers, here are our top ten for the season.<\/p>\n
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10 \u2013 RILEY THILTHORPE \u2013 31 PTS<\/p>\n
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9 \u2013 HUGH MCCLUGGAGE \u2013 35<\/p>\n
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8 \u2013 NASIAH WANGANEEN-MILERA \u2013 36<\/p>\n
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7 \u2013 MAX GAWN \u2013 39<\/p>\n
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6 \u2013 NICK DAICOS \u2013 41<\/p>\n
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5 \u2013 HARRIS ANDREWS \u2013 48 (One first-place vote)<\/p>\n
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4 \u2013 JEREMY CAMERON \u2013 54 (One first-place vote)<\/p>\n
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3 \u2013 BAILEY SMITH \u2013 56<\/p>\n
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2 \u2013 NOAH ANDERSON \u2013 57 (two first-place votes)<\/p>\n
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1 \u2013 JORDAN DAWSON \u2013 90 (six first-place votes)<\/p>\n
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Congratulations to the winner of the 2025 Mongrel Punt Most Valuable Player, Jordan Dawson \u2013 his play resonated with the Mongrel staff, as he received six first place votes out of ten writers who submitted their list. Nobody had him below fifth in their responses.<\/p>\n
Of the highest possible score of 100 points, it speaks volumes that Dawson scored 90 overall. His contribution to the Crows, and the way he led this team all season, often stepping up to take control in moments when his team needed him, demonstrates that he has made the step from star to superstar of the game.<\/p>\n
As an aside, remember earlier this season when Champion Data tried to convince people that he wasn\u2019t that good a kick?<\/p>\n
I\u2019d like to give them a kick, sometimes\u2026 right up the arse. Dawson\u2019s booming boot breaks down defences, often clearing the traffic and allowing quick thinking, and strong marking forwards to get back onto the footy and set up scoring opportunities.<\/p>\n
I can remember watching him at the Swans \u2013 and you are free to go back into our archives and search for proof of this \u2013 and thinking that he had so much more to give than we were seeing. He was playing half-back and wing, often alternating with Justin McInerney. However, Dawson was a class above, and with his move to the Crows, it quickly became apparent that he was about to break out. As a midfielder who can push forward and challenge in the air, or set sail from outside 50 with ease, Dawson has become a midfield weapon few can compare to.<\/p>\n
The AFLPA best captain of 2025, Dawson should have been named the All-Australian captain, as well, but the selectors have opted to make that title something like a career-achievement award in recent seasons. That\u2019s what the Hall of Fame is for, people. Stick to naming the best captain FOR THE SEASON as the All-Australian captain, and in 2025, the best captain was Jordan Dawson.<\/p>\n
He doubles up with our own Mongrel MVP award this year, as he leads his Crows into finals.<\/p>\n
Congrats to Jordan Dawson on a spectacular season to date, and as we head toward week one of September action, you just get the feeling that he may have a fair bit more to give this year.<\/p>\n
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And just for a bit of fun \u2013 and these votes did not count in the overall totals for the players, Mrs Mongrel requested\u2026 or demanded, that she also be able to submit a list.<\/p>\n
She refused to put them in order, except for the first player, who also appears on the list twice for some reason, but let\u2019s see what we can make of this.<\/p>\n
THE WINNER<\/p>\n
1 \u2013 MATT ROWELL<\/p>\n
THE OTHERS<\/p>\n
THE BIG, WOOLLY WOLF LOOKING MAN<\/p>\n
THE GUY FROM THE BULLDOGS WITH THE HELMET<\/p>\n
WIZARD<\/p>\n
DERMOTT<\/p>\n
CHOL<\/p>\n
STEWIE DEW<\/p>\n
THE TROUBLED ONE AT GEELONG<\/p>\n
MATT ROWELL AGAIN<\/p>\n
Yes, so you can see why I didn\u2019t want to add her votes to the overall mix.<\/p>\n
I am pretty certain the woolly-looking wolfman is Riley Thilthorpe, although she only said I should know who she is talking about.<\/p>\n
She wouldn\u2019t hear that Caleb Daniel no longer plays for the Dogs, or that Stewie Dew is no longer at the Suns, even though it was clear that Damien Hardwick now coaches them, and we\u2019ve even talked about this.<\/p>\n
She likes Chol because he is very shiny, and when pressed about whom the troubled one at Geelong was, she simply answered that he has acreage. That certainly narrows it down.<\/p>\n
Anyway, there we go \u2013 I did as requested. Congrats to Matt Rowell, I guess.<\/p>\n
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As always, massive thanks to those who support this work. You can see the amount of care that goes into it. I love footy, I love writing about it, and I hope you enjoy reading it. Without you, this whole thing falls over. Sincerely\u2026 thank you \u2013 HB<\/p>\n
Like this content? You could buy me a coffee \u2013 I do like coffee, but there is no guarantee I won\u2019t use it to buy a doughnut\u2026 I like them more. And I am not brought to you by Sportsbet or Ladbrokes\u2026 or Bet365, or any of them.<\/p>\n
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