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December 31, 2005
It Never Rains, But It Pours Player of the Year
This is a hard award to hand out considering that this was a Premiership season and the Swans line up during the season was so even thoughout the season. Players like Brett Kirk, Barry Hall, Adam Goodes, Tadhg Kennelly, Jude Bolton, Leo Barry and Craig Bolton all put forward strong claims for the award but at the end of the day it really was fought out by three players who's form and impact were the difference between the Swans winning the Premiership and being also ran's.
So when you look closely at those three players who made an impact during the season, Brett Kirk, Barry Hall and Craig Bolton you have to make the difficult decision which player is the worthy Premiership season Player of the Year and basically it comes down to not just form on the field, but also the form off it as a club leader.
So therefore this means that Craig Bolton the understated hero of the defence who week after week does a simular job to Leo Barry in taking opponents who outsize him. However while his role in the team is very important the lack of leadership to the level of Hall and Kirk mean he comes third is the Player of the Year awards.
So this therefore means that we have to split Hall and Kirk in search of the Player of the Year. The common person would 9 times out of 10 pick Premiership Captain, Barry Hall who lead the team from the front and threw his weight around. In a normal year he would be a shoe in for this award, but his 80 goals and spot in club history as the 4th Premiership Captain are only good enough for 2nd spot in the Player of the Year award.
This means the first ever It Never Rains, But It Pours Player of the Year award goes to Brett Kirk.
So your asking yourself why I've picked Brett Kirk as my Player of the Year, well it’s a tough one to explain but to be honest a decision that wasn't that hard to make. For me Brett Kirk’s ability to play above himself each and every week while leading the side from the front when not even the captain was inspiring to see and when given his chance as captain the 4 or 5 times he turn was up in the rotation policy he came to play and certainly lived up to the club image of a captain forged by Bob Skilton and Paul Kelly.
However the fact he took such key role in building the teamwork that was credited in winning the Premiership though his role in setting up the players groups known as "The Bloods". However as I stated above it was not just off the field where he made an impact in his leadership.
Just watching him bring the side together as a tight group, while 8 points down before the final quarter of Preliminary Final with his head held together with tape and a rugby helmet after taking an early blow to the head which cut him wide open. The fact he came back to play an important role was one thing, to inspire the side was another.
So therefore these qualities and his overall form make him the first ever “It Never Rains, But It Pours Player of the Year�.
Posted by robbieando at December 31, 2005 02:01 PM
Comments
brett kirk is SO hot!
Posted by: kayla at April 11, 2006 12:43 PM