5 of the STRANGEST AFL Silverware winners
From deserved underdogs to ‘maybe that shouldn’t of happened’.
Find out who receives a jersey…
1. Western Bulldogs
Silverware: The Holy Grail – AFL Premiership
The Bulldogs were referred to as pups during the 2016 season breeding such a young and inexperienced list.
At the end of the Home & Away season, the Bulldogs finished 7th on the ladder, as history suggests, a position that just makes up the numbers in the finals series. At the right time, the Bulldogs found an incredible synergy, eliminating serious Premiership contender’s week by week. Eventually reaching ‘The Big Dance’ to complete the unimaginable – defeating Minor Premiers and clear favourites Sydney Swans by 22 points!
2. Marlion Pickett
Silverware: 2019 AFL Premiership Medallion
At 27 years old, Pickett went from being drafted by Richmond as a rookie in the mid-season draft, to a VFL debut in round 18 and finishing the VFL season with a Premiership & a Norm Goss medal (best on ground in a VFL Grand Final). Pickett wasn’t finished there, being the second player in AFL/VFL history to debut in a Grand Final – the last occasion being Keith Batchelor in 1952 for Collingwood. As the 2019 Grand Final siren sounded, Pickett went one better, being the only debutant to WIN a premiership. Capping off one of the most remarkable stories in AFL history, Pickett also came pretty close to winning the Norm Smith, finishing 3rd on the day – imagine if he won that too!
3. Michael Gardiner
Silverware: 2003 Ross Glendinning Medal (Western Derby Medal)
In the first Western Derby of 2003 West Coast got the better of Fremantle with a 35-point victory. Five judges selected Ashley Sampi as the winner of the Ross Glendinning Medal. Unfortunately for Sampi, Glendinning, the medal name sake and presenter, had other ideas. “Most (judges) had either Andrew Embley or Ashley Sampi as the likely winner,” said Ross. “I reckon that Gardiner’s the one who has probably had the influence when it was really important…” Disregarding the judges, Glendinning decided ‘Bugger it. I’m going to go with Gardiner.’ After all the controversy, Glendinning decided to change his approach for future derby clashes, opting to no longer have any input on the medal winners.
How about some unusual moments?
4. Mark McGough
Silverware: 2002 Anzac Day Medal
In his second game for Collingwood at age 17, Mark McGough played out of his skin, winning the 2002 Anzac Day Medal.
To make matters even stranger, the day after he was back in the classroom for an Anzac Day Medal ‘show & tell’.
McGough’s AFL career unfortunately didn’t live up to the expectations from his huge second game, ending with 49 games between Collingwood and Saint Kilda.
5. Shane Woewodin
Silverware: 2000 Brownlow Medal – 24 votes
At the start of the 2000 season, Shane Woewodin was long odd’s to win the Brownlow at 200-1! After his astonishing win, Woewodin suffered from the Brownlow blues, eventually being traded in 2002 to Collingwood.
