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Whateley and Hodge's picks for end of season AFL Awards
SEN • August 28th, 2025 8:44 am
The AFL Awards night is upon us with the league meeting at Centrepiece on Thursday to decide who takes out some of the competition’s most distinguished awards.
The All-Australian squad of 44 was announced on Tuesday afternoon with the full squad to be announced on Thursday night after the Gold Coast and Essendon game.
The squad will feature the All-Australian captain with several names putting their hands up for selection while the competition’s most courageous player will be crowned.
The Rising Star race has been an intriguing watch for the whole season with no current tear away leader.
SEN’s Luke Hodge and Gerard Whateley have had a crack at predicting who will take home this year’s awards.
Most Courageous
Hodge: Zak Butters
Whateley: Zak Butters
Hodge: "He’s got something in him, that look in his eye. Doesn’t matter who the person is that’s coming at him, doesn’t matter where the ball is, doesn’t matter the position that he’s in. He’s someone that will do anything that he possibly can to get that ball or put his body on the line for the team."
Whateley: "I’m with you there."
Rising Star
5-4-3-2-1 votes.
Hodge: 5. Levi Ashcroft, 4. Dan Curtin, 3. Murphy Reid, 2. Harvey Langford, 1. Connor O’Sullivan
Whateley: 5. Murphy Reid, 4. Levi Ashcroft, 3. Murphy Reid, 2. Connor O’Sullivan, 1. Archie Roberts
Hodge: "Levi came in and he is averaging 20 touches a game. He plays in the hardest position on the ground, high half forward. It’s easier to play in a worse team play across half back and find the ball."
Whateley: "I’ve gone five Murphy Reid, I think he’s the player who’s had the most impact on their team. I think he’s been central from first to last, that first game he kicked four goals in six minutes and the last game he was profoundly influential with the finals place on the line."
Most valuable player
3-2-1 votes
Hodge: 3. Jordan Dawson, 2. Nick Daicos, 1. Jeremy Cameron
Whately: 3. Jordan Dawson, 2. Jeremy Cameron, 1. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
Hodge: "His stats aren’t as high as other years but sometimes in a good team as a leader and a valuable player, you have to be put where you are needed. He is happy to start forward, he will go and sit on someone if he needs to at a stoppage and he’ll go and play on ball."
Whateley: "Dawson has been a match winner."
All Australian Captain
3-2-1 votes
Hodge: 3. Jordan Dawson, 2. Noah Anderson, 1. Marcus Bontempelli
Whateley: 3. Jordan Dawson, 2. Noah Anderson, 1. Max Gawn
Hodge: "Led his side to the minor premiership and first final sine 2017."
Whateley: "Jordan Dawson is my All-Australian captain."
