While the Merrett-Murray Medal remains the centrepiece of the Brisbane Lions’ Club Champion dinner, a selection of players will be recognised throughout the evening with a range of individual awards.

Below is a complete list of awards that will be distributed at this Saturday night’s end-of-season event together with a history of previous winners.

MEMBERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

The Members’ Player of the Year Award was introduced in 2006 to reflect the valued opinions of the Lions members.

At the end of each match, Club members are invited to submit their votes for who they believed were the three best performed Lions players using the familiar 3-2-1 format.

All votes are tallied at the end of the season to ultimately determine who the members believed was the Lions best player.

Not surprisingly, fan favourites Jonathan Brown, Luke Power and Simon Black have dominated this category during its five-year existence.

It’s tough to predict a winner in 2011. Black and Power should poll strongly once again, but expect some stiff competition from relative new kids on the block Jack Redden, Matthew Leuenberger and Tom Rockliff.

Previous Winners
2010: Jonathan Brown
2009: Jonathan Brown
2008: Luke Power
2007: Simon Black
2006: Simon Black

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

This popular award recognises the best performed young player in 2011.

The evaluation criteria is exactly the same as the one used for the AFL Rising Star Award - that is, a player must be aged under 21 years and have played 10 games or less to be eligible.

The award has been in existence since the Lions formed in 1997 - albeit in different forms - and has previously been taken home by Club greats such as Simon Black, Daniel Bradshaw, Robert Copeland, Jamie Charman, Beau McDonald and Ash McGrath.

Daniel Rich and Tom Rockliff are among the more recent winners of the award.

After blooding 11 new players in 2011, there is a long list of candidates to choose from, headed by Jesse O’Brien (13 games), Bryce Retzlaff (11), Patrick Karnezis (11), Niall McKeever (10) and Aaron Cornelius (eight).

Previous Winners
2010: Tom Rockliff
2009: Daniel Rich
2008: Bradd Dalziell
2007: Colm Begley
2006: Justin Sherman
2005: Jed Adcock
2004: Richard Hadley
2003: Ash McGrath
2002: Jamie Charman
2001: Robert Copeland
2000: Beau McDonald
1999: Simon Black
1998: Simon Black
1997: Daniel Bradshaw

SHAUN HART MOST COURAGEOUS PLAYER AWARD

Since 2009, the Club’s Most Courageous Player Award has been named in honour of former triple premiership star Shaun Hart.

This tribute recognises the champion career and qualities of the helmeted midfielder who commenced his football journey with the Bears back in 1989 and called it a day with the Lions in 2004. This was after a decorated career spanning 273 courageous games including three Premiership medallions and the 2001 Norm Smith Medal.

As the name suggests, the award acknowledges the player that is considered to have been the most courageous throughout the season.

Two-time winner Jonathan Brown automatically springs to mind considering his fearless attack on the ball which cost his two separate facial fractures in 2011.

However, while that’s an obvious example of ‘courage’, there are hundreds of other examples that happen around the Club on a daily basis. It could be playing through pain and injury, pushing yourself to the absolute limits or simply putting your team first before your own safety.

Whoever gets the nod in 2011 will be joining some elite company.

Previous Winners
2010: Jonathan Brown
2009: Mitch Clark
2008: Michael Rischitelli
2007: Jonathan Brown
2006: Michael Voss

MARCUS ASHCROFT MOST PROFESSIONAL PLAYER AWARD

The Most Professional Player Award is another that has stood the test of time since the merged Brisbane Lions’ inaugural season in 1997.

It was originally associated with the esteemed career of Don Smith, whose Queensland AFL career spanned 14 years from 1970 to 1984 and included multiple premierships, two Grogan Medals and selection in the 2003 Queensland Team of the Century. Don also enjoyed a stint as player-coach of Nambour from 1985 to 1988 and gained All-Australian selection in the over 35s Super Rules in 1992.

Since 2009, however, the award has honoured the Club’s most professional player over the past 15 years - Marcus Ashcroft.

Ashcroft played 318 games with the Lions and, in the process, became the first Queenslander to notch 300 AFL games. He is a triple premiership player who finished in the Club Champion top three on four occasions without ever taking out the honour.

The award largely recognises the player who has been the ‘most professional’ with his rehabilitation, approach to training or overall attitude towards being a ‘professional’ athlete.

Previous Winners
2010: Daniel Merrett
2009: Jonathan Brown
2008: Daniel Bradshaw
2007: Robert Copeland
2006: Michael Voss
2005: Jonathan Brown
2004: Michael Voss
2003: Michael Voss
2002: Craig McRae
2001: Jason Akermanis
2000: Michael Voss
1999: Chris Scott
1998: Matthew Kennedy
1997: Marcus Ashcroft

PLAYER’S PLAYER AWARD

The Club’s newest award - introduced in 2009 - was designed to be voted by and for the playing group, much like the AFL Player’s Association’s MVP.

Each week, the players were asked to vote on who they felt best reflected the values they strive for as a group. There was a great emphasis placed on acts that benefited the team as a whole and not the individual.

The player with the most votes each week wins, then the player who accumulates the most wins over the season is the overall winner - not the player with the most votes overall.

Simon Black has won both awards since its inception and would be well placed to secure an impressive three-peat this Saturday night, but the players’ view can differ significantly from the general public - and even the coaches.

Previous Winners
2010: Simon Black
2009: Simon Black

Don't forget, you can still secure your place at this event by phoning 07 3335 1756 or email sales@lions.com.au  

You can also download and complete a booking form online by clicking here

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