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Who the coaches missed and Round 1’s Most Damaging Player
SEN • March 19th, 2025 11:43 am
Who did the coaches miss in Round 1?
Champion Data’s Daniel Hoyne has assessed which players were overlooked in the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award.
See who the coaches missed below:
Sam Lalor (Richmond)
“Sam Lalor was the fourth highest rated player on the ground and didn’t get a vote,” Hoyne said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“That was actually the fourth highest rated game by an 18-year-old we have seen in 15 years of doing our ratings.”
Josh Ward (Hawthorn)
“An interesting player was Josh Ward.
“He came in for James Worpel and was the third highest rated player on the ground. Didn’t get a vote.
“His ball-winning ability was superb. One hard ball get he won on the weekend, seven loose balls. Give me that profile every day of the week.”
Braeden Campbell (Sydney)
“The move into the forward half of the ground, he was fantastic on the weekend against Brisbane.
“Fourth highest rated player on the ground. Eight forward-half disposals all went on the scoreboard and two goals as well.”
Matt Kennedy (Western Bulldogs)
“A good (Dogs) debut for Matt Kennedy.
“Didn’t get a vote from the coaches as well. Third highest rated player on the ground.
“That was actually the third highest rated game of his career. The split between 60 per cent midfield and 40 per cent forward looked ok for him.
“23 disposals and how he actually used it was extremely influential. He was one of the more influential ball users on the weekend.”
Brayden Maynard (Collingwood)
“Second highest rated player on the ground, didn’t get a vote from the coaches.
“That was the third highest game of his career. Two goals, very unlike Brayden, but incredibly influential against Port Adelaide.”
Hoyne also revealed the round’s Most Damaging Player (MDP).
“The most impactful and highest rated player from the weekend was Caleb Serong,” he said.
“A 20-rated game is an All-Australian standard or out-of-the-box game, he had 25 rating points.
“The majority of his came in that third quarter along with Luke Jackson.”
