Cripps Player of the Year: mid-season update

By Simon Andrews

It’s the halfway point of the 2022 TSL season, which means it’s a s suitable time to take a look at the media-voted Cripps Player of the Year leaderboard to see who’s looking strong so far and just who might be a dark horse ready to make a second-half of season run.

As of round 11, there are three players tied for first at the top of the Cripps leaderboard. This consists of two Launceston teammates, Jobi Harper and Brodie Palfreyman, as well as Lauderdale utility Sam Siggins,  who all have 11 votes to their name.

Harper has continued to lead by example at Windsor Park, gaining the plaudits of those outside of the club, with Lauderdale coach Daniel Willing describing his round 10 performance against North Launceston as “one of the best performances I’ve seen in the TSL”.

Palfreyman has found himself atop the leaderboard for most of the year so far and is racking up impressive numbers every week. The Blues midfielder is averaging 23.6 disposals (8 contested), 5.4 rebound 50s and 5.8 tackles per game. S

2020 Alastair Lynch Medalist Sam Siggins appears to have somehow improved his game even more in 2022, playing a vital role both in the middle of the ground and up forward, with significant bursts in the ruck or in the goal square.

Only one vote behind the leaders are two of the competition’s tackling kings – North Launceston’s Jack Avent and Kingborough’s Eddie Cole. Avent is the no. 1 ranked player for tackles in the TSL, averaging 6.6 a game, while Cole is not too far behind with 6.3. Both players’ elite pressure clearly catching the eye of the Tasmanian media.

2017 Cripps player of the year Brad Cox-Goodyer is a genuine star of the competition and looms as a dark horse to take home the award this year, sitting on 8 votes. The North Launceston player-coach didn’t register a vote until round 6 but is starting to produce the performances that could see him make a late run for the medal.  Other players in a strong position at the halfway mark include Clarence big man Colin Garland (8 votes), Kingborough spearhead Jordan Lane (5 votes) and Launceston midfield bull Fletcher Seymour (5 votes).

Jake Hinds was dominating the voting in the early part of the season, however competition from his Launceston teammates such as Harper, Palfreyman and Seymour have seen him fall back to the pack. However, with his firepower inside 50 and so much of the season to play, he would be every chance to be thereabouts at the pointy end of the campaign.

Leaderboard: