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B&F, Brownlow, Norm Smith… Buckley ranks five AFL individual awards
SEN • September 25th, 2025 9:00 am
Nathan Buckley rates a best and fairest in a premiership year over any other individual award an AFL player can win.
Buckley, who won a Brownlow, Norm Smith, Rising Star, AFLCA Champion Player, 7 All-Australians and 6 Copeland Trophies throughout his career, has just about won it all, and there aren’t many with more experience in individual AFL awards to give his verdict.
While the Brownlow is considered the most glamorous and prestigious individual honour by many, Buckley doesn’t see it that way, putting the umpire-voted gong fourth among five top awards.
He explained his rankings of the five big individual awards with Gerard Whateley, having won three of the five across his career.
“I think the most prestigious individual award or the best accolade that you could win as an individual is best and fairest in a premiership year. But that's still a club award,” Buckley told SEN Whateley.
“I think next is the Norm Smith, and generally that's the best player on the biggest day in the winning side, generally…
“I think the wider one that's available to all across the competition, the Coaches Association Award is the most significant. I look at that and think I trust the coaches.
“I'll put the Brownlow next and the AFL Players Award (after). I feel like that’s a little bit of a popularity contest personally.”
While many have criticised the Brownlow with the voting often producing a winner that many don’t consider the best or one of the best players in the competition for that season, Buckley isn’t too concerned with that, stating that no award is technically perfect.
“None of them are going to be perfect,” Buckley added.
“Let's be clear, we will never satisfy 100% of the participants, viewers or contributors to any particular award.
“The difference of opinion is great.”
Buckley’s rankings of AFL individual awards1 – Best and fairest (in a premiership year)
2 – Norm Smith Medal
3 – AFLCA Champion Player
4 – Brownlow Medal
5 – AFLPA MVP
2 – Norm Smith Medal
3 – AFLCA Champion Player
4 – Brownlow Medal
5 – AFLPA MVP
