Although the Finals Series will remain at the forefront of the AFL’s agenda throughout September, the month will also see the season’s best performers acknowledged with a range of individual honours to be presented throughout the period.

From the AFL Rising Star to the Brownlow Medal, fans of the non-participating clubs still have plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks.

Lions.com.au takes a closer look at the AFL awards season, with an obvious focus on the Club’s most likely candidates.

AFL Rising Star
Wednesday 3 September 2014

The Lions will have three eligible players – James Aish, Lewy Taylor, and Darcy Gardiner – vying for the Ron Evans Medal as the competition’s best young player in 2014.

Aish and Taylor, in particular, are among the favourites for the award, and will be right in line to become the first Lions player to receive the honour since Daniel Rich in 2009.

The Western Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli is the favourite heading into the event, while Josh Kelly (GWS Giants), Luke McDonald (North Melbourne), Tom Langdon (Collingwood), and Kade Kolodjashnij (Gold Coast) are also fancied.  

Brisbane Lions Club Champion Dinner
Friday 5 September 2014

The Lions’ Club Champion dinner will recognise a range of the season’s highest achievers, with the evening culminating in the presentation of the Merrett-Murray Medal to the team’s best and fairest player.

If there was a market on the Lions Club Champion, Tom Rockliff would sit as the pre-count favourite following a standout season which saw him average a Club record 32.7 disposals.

But the past couple of seasons has proven that the pre-count favourite doesn’t always win, and Rockliff has missed four matches which could affect his chances.

Pearce Hanley and Dayne Zorko will also be among the main contenders, along with reigning two-time winner Joel Patfull, Captain Jed Adcock, and ruckman Stefan Martin (despite playing just half a season).

A new voting system

In other awards, you would expect Aish and Taylor will again battle it out for the Lions Rookie of the Year, while it’s hard to predict who will take home the others.  

AFL Players’ Awards
Tuesday 9 September 2014

Three Lions players – Tom Rockliff, Stefan Martin, and Pearce Hanley – were selected by their teammates as the Club’s three nominations for the Leigh Matthews Trophy, awarded to the AFL Players’ MVP.

It remains one of the most prestigious awards in the AFL, mainly as it is voted on by the actual players.

Gold Coast’s Gary Ablett has won plenty of these and will come into consideration again, along with the likes of Nat Fyfe (Fremantle), Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood), and Joel Selwood (Geelong).

Lewy Taylor edged out James Aish as the Lions’ nominee for the Best First Year Player, and should be a real chance to claim the award.

Taylor, Aish, and Ryan Lester are also part of the 40-man squad vying for selection in the AFL Players’ 22Under22 team.

Joel Patfull (Most Courageous player) and Jed Adcock (Best Captain) have also been nominated for awards.

AFL All-Australian
Tuesday 16 September 2014

Jonathan Brown has been the only Lions player to earn All-Australian honours in the past decade, but that should all change this year.

Vice-Captain Tom Rockliff will surely be selected in the AFL’s Team of the Year for the first time in 2014, on the back of an outstanding season.

There are obviously a lot of quality midfielders to contend with for spots, but Rockliff’s sheer weight of numbers should see him get the nod.

Pearce Hanley could also be a chance of securing a place, while Stefan Martin would have almost been a certainty had he not missed half the season.

Lions All Australian history

AFL Coaches’ Association Awards
Tuesday 23 September 2014

Port Adelaide’s Robbie Gray has already been announced as the AFLCA’s Player of the Year, edging out Nat Fyfe (Fremantle), Josh Kennedy (Sydney), and Lance Franklin (Sydney).

Some of the other awards set to be handed out throughout the evening include: Best Young Player (incorporating the past two seasons), Development Coach of the Year, Assistant Coach of the Year, and Senior Coach of the Year.

Brownlow Medal
Monday 22 September 2014

The Brownlow Medal remains the most sought after individual award in the AFL competition, and the 2014 count should be one of the best in recent memory.

Tom Rockliff finished equal fifth last year with 21 votes, and should probably poll more in 2014 considering his outstanding form.

However, the Vice-Captain is ineligible to win after being suspended twice throughout the season.

Lions at the Brownlow

It’s hard to see anyone else at the Club rivalling the likes of Gary Ablett, Josh Kennedy, Scott Pendlebury, Dyson Heppell, Joel Selwood, and Matt Priddis on the night.

Five Lions players will be invited to attend, and regardless of how they poll, will no doubt enjoy the pomp and ceremony that comes with the AFL’s ‘night of nights’.