ABORIGINAL football wizardry just keeps on keeping on in the AFL and this week a trio of magicians are up for award nominations.
Kangaroos forward pocket dynamo Lindsay Thomas' freakish goal helped his side win a close game over Port Adelaide on Saturday night and it earned him a nomination in the AFL's goal of the year award.
Thomas, ever the opportunist, pounced on a loose ball in the goal square and snapped a brilliant goal while being pulled to the ground. Showing his versatility, Thomas was nominated for mark of the year in Round 8.
Earlier, on Friday night, Carlton's Eddie Betts threaded through a pearler on his non-preferred left foot while cornered on the boundary against St Kilda. It was Betts' second such nomination for the award this season.
While Thomas' goal helped the Kangas to a win, Betts' beauty couldn't inspire his Blues team-mates to do likewise.
And on Saturday, football statesman Michael O'Loughlin hauled in a sensational grab to be in contention for the mark of the year.
O'Loughlin came in from side-on over Hawk Campbell Brown to take the high-flying mark in the final quarter, thus earning the veteran forward's second nomination for mark of the year.
The triple nominations this week highlight the growing impact Indigenous players are having in the AFL. To date, 15 players have been nominated and have won the voting for either mark or goal of the year.
In the goal of the year category, Indigenous players were nominated in an astonshing nine-week run from Rounds 1 to 9, with four of those, Betts, Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn), Aaron Davey (Melbourne) and Daniel Motlop (Port), winning the vote. Geelong's Mathhew Stokes won the vote for his goal last week.
In the mark of the year category, seven players have been nominted with just the one winning the vote; Paddy Ryder's grab in Round 1.
* Voting is open from the Monday after each round through to the following Sunday night. The nominated marks and goals can be viewed at
www.AFL.com.au/markgoal
This year in the AFL, these Indigenous footballers have been nominated for mark of the year in:
Round 4: Paddy Ryder (Essendon);
Round 5: Mark Williams (Hawthorn);
Round 7: Daniel Motlop (Port) and Jeff Farmer (Fremantle);
Round 8: Lindsay Thomas (North Melbourne) and Michael O'Loughlin (Sydney);
Round 12: Aaron Davey (Melbourne);
Round 13: Paddy Ryder (Essendon);
Round 15: Michael O'Loughlin (Sydney).
And goal of the year in:
Round 1: Alwyn Davey (Essendon) and Leon Davis (Collingwood);
Round 2: Eddie Betts (Carlton) and Lance Franklin (Hawthorn);
Round 3: Andrew Lovett (Essendon, two of three nominations);
Round 4: Richard Tambling (Richmond);
Round 5: David Wirrpanda (West Coast) and Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide);
Round 6: Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn) and Andrew McLeod (Adelaide);
Round 7: Aaron Davey (Melbourne) and Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide);
Round 8: Leon Davis (Collingwood) and Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide);
Round 9: Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide);
Round 14: Mathew Stokes (Geelong);
Round 15: Lindsay Thomas (North Melbourne) and Eddie Betts (Carlton)
DARREN MONCRIEFF
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Last Modified on 30/07/2008 22:53