Mark of the Year

The annual Australian Football League Mark of the Year competition (currently also known as the Weet Bix AFL Mark of the Year) is a sporting award that celebrates each season's best mark. A mark is the action of a player cleanly catching a kicked ball that has travelled more than 15 metres (49 ft) without the ball hitting the ground.

Official logo for the Mark of the Year competition in 2006

An Australian rules football. It must be caught successfully during an AFL match to qualify the mark for the competition.

Originally known as the "VFL Mark of the Year" and selected by a panel of football experts on Network Seven's World of Sport program, the contest was renamed the "AFL Mark of the Year" following the competition's renaming in 1990. Since 2001 it has been run by the AFL. It is open only to players within the AFL and applies to marks taken during official AFL season matches. Several other Australian rules football leagues followed with their own "Mark of the Year" competitions.

A famous VFL footballer, Alex Jesaulenko, unofficially won the first award for a "spectacular mark" during the 1970 VFL Grand Final, a mark that has been frequently called "The Mark of the Century".

Thirty-two players have won the competition; of those, five have won multiple times and six are still active in the AFL. Peter Knights (Hawthorn) and Tony Modra (Adelaide/Fremantle) have won the most Mark of the Year awards, with three each.

The competition is run in conjunction with the Goal of the Year contest, which recognizes the best goal kicked during an AFL season. Two players have won both the "Mark of the Year" and "Goal of the Year" awards in the same season: Michael Mitchell and Peter Bosustow.

Background

Currently also known by its sponsorship name as the "Weet Bix AFL Mark of the Year",[1][2] the competition is open to players in the AFL (Australian rules football's highest league).[3][4] Winners receive an assortment of prizes, including $5,000 for their grassroots (junior) club, the use of a Toyota Kluger for 12 months and the Alex Jesaulenko Medal.[2][3][5][6]

The current Victorian Football League (formerly known as the Victorian Football Association) runs a similar competition; however, the winners are selected only from the few games that are televised. Many other amateur Australian rules football leagues also run an equivalent competition, but they often rely on less comprehensive television footage; some amateur leagues rely on spectators who submit photos and amateur video recordings to the league[7] or to television shows such as the AFL Footy Show.[8][9]

Chris Tarrant's mark in round 10, 2001 has been used as the basis of the silhouette for the Mark of the Year logo, despite its losing the Mark of the Year to Gary Moorcroft's round 14 mark.[2] Many of the best marks in the VFL/AFL were featured in a VHS/DVD named Miracle Marks.[10]

History

The competition was initiated following Alex Jesaulenko's mark over Graeme "Jerker" Jenkin in the 1970 (Victorian Football League) Grand Final and later recognised officially as the Mark of the Year; the medal awarded to the winner now bears his name.[3][4][11] During the 1970s and early 1980s, the award was decided by a panel of football experts on Network Seven's "World of Sport" program and during the 1980s and 1990s, the winning mark was determined by selected football journalists and experts.[3] With minor modifications, the current selection process was first used in the 1998 season.[7][12] In 1990, the competition (originally known as the VFL Mark of the Year) was renamed the AFL Mark of the Year, following the inception of the AFL.[3][13][14]

Selection process

After each round of the regular AFL season, three "mark of the week" nominations are determined by a panel of football experts. The general public can then vote for a weekly winner on the AFL website.[1][6]

After the regular season's end, the title is given to a single mark, which is chosen by the All-Australian selection committee; the public is not given a say in the final outcome. The selection committee is not restricted to choosing a winner from the mark of the week winners; 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 Jurrah as Mark of the Year. The winner is announced during grand final week.[6]

Annual winners

Alex Jesaulenko's mark over Graeme "Jerker" Jenkin in the 1970 Grand Final

Gary Moorcroft's famous 2001 mark of the year

AFL Mark of the Year Winners

Key

*	Player is still active in the AFL
#	Player also won Goal of the year for the same year
^	Player has won Mark of the Year multiple times

Year	Winner	Team	Match, round, ground	Note
1970	Alex Jesaulenko	Carlton	Carlton vs. Collingwood, grand final day, Melbourne Cricket Ground	Spectacular mark over Graeme Jenkin during 1970 Grand Final.[5][11][15]
1971	Alex Ruscuklic	Fitzroy	Fitzroy vs. Carlton, round 10, Princes Park	"High flyer" by centre-half-forward Alex Ruscuklic.[3]
1972	Peter Knights^	Hawthorn	Hawthorn vs. Collingwood, round 17, Glenferrie Oval	Half-back Peter Knights threw a screamer against Collingwood.[3]
1973	Alan Atkinson	Collingwood	Collingwood vs. Hawthorn, round 21, Waverley Park	Atkinson took "Mark of the Year" over Leon Rice on the wing.[3]
1974	Billy Picken^	Collingwood	Collingwood vs. Richmond, round 9, Melbourne Cricket Ground	Billy Picken took a screamer during the John Greening comeback game.
1975	Peter Knights^	Hawthorn	Hawthorn vs. Carlton, round 17, Princes Park	Juggled mark before Carlton player swung his leg, causing Knights to fall onto his chest.[3]
1976	Billy Picken^	Collingwood	Collingwood vs. St Kilda, round 16, Victoria Park	Overhead mark by Billy Picken against St Kilda.
1977	Peter Knights^	Hawthorn	Collingwood vs. Hawthorn, round 9, Princes Park	Chest mark over the pack.
1978	Phil Baker	North Melbourne	Hawthorn vs. North Melbourne, grand final day, Melbourne Cricket Ground	High mark above Hawks defenders, Kelvin Moore and Ian Paton, in the 1978 Grand final.[16]
1979	Michael Roach	Richmond	Richmond vs. Hawthorn, round 5, Melbourne Cricket Ground	Chest mark over Kelvin Moore, Terry Moore and Ian Paton.
1980	Graham Teasdale	South Melbourne	South Melbourne vs. Collingwood, round 7, Lake Oval[17]	Graham Teasdale took a "marvellous mark" over Collingwood's Billy Picken.[3]
1981	Peter Bosustow#	Carlton	Carlton vs. Geelong, round 18, Princes Park	Chest mark over the pack.
1982	Geoff Raines	Richmond	Richmond vs. Fitzroy, round 2, Melbourne Cricket Ground	Leapt high above Fitzroy's David McMahon before falling forward with the ball firmly in his grasp.[3][18]
1983	Ken Hunter	Carlton	Carlton vs. Richmond, round 1, Princes Park	Overhead mark ran into a pack.
1984	Denis Banks	Collingwood	Footscray vs. Collingwood, round 10, Western Oval	Mark ran with the flight of the ball.
1985	Gary Ablett, Sr.^	Geelong	Geelong vs. North Melbourne, round 5, Kardinia Park	Specky over the pack.
1986	Alan Ezard	Essendon	Essendon vs. Carlton, round 5, Waverley Park[19]	A towering chest mark over 6 ft 9 Justin Madden.[3]
1987	Warwick Capper	Sydney	Sydney vs. Hawthorn, qualifying final, Waverley Park[20]	Used Chris Langford as a stepladder to take the ball while lying on his side.[21]
1988	Stephen Silvagni	Carlton	Collingwood vs. Carlton, round 14, Melbourne Cricket Ground	Chest mark with long hang-time over Craig Starcevich.
1989	Alastair Lynch	Fitzroy	Fitzroy vs. North Melbourne, round 16, Melbourne Cricket Ground	Juggling mark over the pack.
1990	Michael Mitchell#	Richmond	Richmond vs. Fitzroy, round 5, Melbourne Cricket Ground	A juggled mark against his Fitzroy opponent.
1991	Brett Allison	North Melbourne	North Melbourne vs. Collingwood, round 11, Melbourne Cricket Ground	Specky over Gavin Crosisca.
1992	Nicky Winmar	St Kilda	Essendon vs. St Kilda, round 16, Melbourne Cricket Ground	A "breathtaking" mark at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.[22]
1993	Tony Modra^	Adelaide	Adelaide vs. North Melbourne, rRound 8, Football Park	Spectacular mark over Ian Fairley and Glenn Archer of North Melbourne. Adelaide came from behind to record a two-point win.[23]
1994	Gary Ablett, Sr.^	Geelong	Collingwood vs. Geelong, round 7, Melbourne Cricket Ground	Took a magnificent leap, basically sitting in Magpie Gary Pert's arms and took a one-handed juggling mark.
1995	Shaun Smith	Melbourne	Brisbane vs. Melbourne, round 22, Brisbane Cricket Ground	"High leap" over teammate Garry Lyon.
1996	Ben Hart	Adelaide	Adelaide vs. St Kilda, round 8, Football Park	Intercepted Peter Everitt's inside-50 entry by jumping and lying on his back three metres into the air, at the northern end of Football Park against St Kilda.[24]
1997	Tony Modra^	Adelaide	Adelaide vs. North Melbourne, round 12, Football Park	Against North Melbourne, Modra rode high on Mick Martyn's shoulders facing towards the crowd with the ball coming in from behind. Turned in midair and grabbed the ball.[23]
1998	Winston Abraham	North Melbourne	North Melbourne vs. Port Adelaide, round 18, Manuka Oval	An overhead mark over Port's Brendon Lade.[25]
1999	Matthew Lappin	Carlton	Carlton vs. Essendon, round 1, Melbourne Cricket Ground	A courageous overhead mark over the pack in the opening match of the season over Judd Lalich.[25]
2000	Tony Modra^	Fremantle	Fremantle vs. Geelong, round 1, Subiaco Oval	From within a pack, Tony Modra rose on the back of his opponent to take a spectacular, from the kick by team mate Ashley Prescott.[25]
2001	Gary Moorcroft	Essendon	Essendon vs. Western Bulldogs, round 14, Telstra Dome	An overhead mark at full stretch after leaping onto and then springing a further metre into the air off Western Bulldogs player Brad Johnson.[26]
2002	Jonathan Brown	Brisbane	Hawthorn vs. Brisbane, round 17, Melbourne Cricket Ground	A courageous chest mark running with the flight of the ball, launching into the oncoming Jade Rawlings.[27]
2003	Chris Tarrant	Collingwood	Collingwood vs. Geelong, round 18, Telstra Dome	A towering chest mark over Geelong defenders, Matthew Scarlett and Max Rooke.[28]
2004	Ashley Sampi	West Coast	West Coast vs. Melbourne, round 7, Melbourne Cricket Ground	Rose high with a chest mark over Paul Wheatley and Adem Yze, landing catlike on his feet.[29]
2005	Luke McPharlin	Fremantle	Fremantle vs. West Coast, round 3, Subiaco Oval	A chest mark at knee height on the shoulders of an opponent in a pack of players.
2006	Brad Ottens	Geelong	Geelong vs. Sydney, round 5, Telstra Stadium	A high flying mark in a pack over Darren Jolly who cushioned Ottens' fall causing additional 'hang-time'.[30]
2007	Michael Newton	Melbourne	Melbourne vs. Kangaroos, round 17, Telstra Dome	High leap in Melbourne's forward fifty over David Neitz and Kangaroos defenders, Glenn Archer and Leigh Brown.[31]
2008	Matthew Lloyd	Essendon	Essendon vs. Melbourne, round 18, Melbourne Cricket Ground	A screamer over a pack of five players late in the third quarter.[32]
2009	Brett Burton	Adelaide	Carlton vs. Adelaide, round 22, Etihad Stadium	Jumped early on a pack consisting of team mate Kurt Tippett and Carlton's Ruckman, Matthew Kreuzer, and received an extra lift off of Carlton backman Bret Thornton to take the mark on his chest. Commentator Dwayne Russell dubbed it one of the marks of the century.[33]
2010	Liam Jurrah	Melbourne	Port Adelaide vs. Melbourne, round 21, AAMI Stadium	Huge leap over a contest between Melbourne's Jack Watts and Port Adelaide's, Nick Salter.[34]
2011	Andrew Krakouer	Collingwood	Collingwood vs. Adelaide, round 9, Etihad Stadium	Very high leap on the shoulders of Adelaide's Luke Thompson.[35][36] The decision created outrage the football community, as the unanimous view of players, fans, the media, and even Krakouer himself was that Andrew Walker of the Carlton Football Club was robbed of the award and deserved to win for his mark in round 18 against Essendon, which received international media attention.[37] [38][39][40]
2012	Jeremy Howe*	Melbourne	Melbourne vs. Sydney, round 8, SCG	Huge screamer over Heath Grundy. One of Howe's many high marks throughout the 2012 season. Howe taking a contender for mark of the year was almost a weekly occurrence.[41]
2013	Jamie Elliott*	Collingwood	Collingwood vs. Port Adelaide, round 14, AAMI Stadium	Jumped through a pack of several players to take a spectacular chest mark.[42]
2014	Chad Wingard*	Port Adelaide	Port Adelaide vs. St Kilda, round 12, Adelaide Oval	Jumped high above Sean Dempster, falling backwards as he took the mark above his head.[43]
2015	Nic Naitanui*	West Coast	West Coast vs. Geelong, round 9, Patersons Stadium	Jumped high in a pack with Mark Blicavs, Jared Rivers and teammate Callum Sinclair.[44]
2016	Majak Daw*	North Melbourne	Collingwood vs. North Melbourne, round 18, Etihad Stadium	Used Collingwood's Jonathan Marsh as a springboard to take the ball over his head.[45][46]
2017	Joe Daniher*	Essendon	St. Kilda vs. Essendon, round 17, Etihad Stadium	Used St Kilda's Jake Carlisle as a springboard and took a large pack mark over his head in the forward pocket.[47]
2018	Isaac Heeney*	Sydney	Melbourne vs. Sydney, round 21, Melbourne Cricket Ground	Incredible high-flying grab turns star Demon into a stepladder.[48]
2019	Liam Ryan*	West Coast	West Coast vs. Melbourne, round 9, Optus Stadium	Incredible high-flying grab in the goal-square turns the Demon Ruckman into a stepladder.[49]
2020	Sam Walsh*	Carlton	Carlton vs. Port Adelaide, Round 7, Gabba	Sam Walsh went running back with the flight into a pack, marking the footy, while getting knocked to the ground.

References

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35. Krakouer best in year of the screamer
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44. =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL5z3e15xH8
45. =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gl3deI6zus
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