Who are the leading candidates for the 2022 AFL Coleman Medal?
The Coleman Medal is a straightforward prospect in many respects – boot the most goals throughout the home-and-away season and you get your name put in the history books and a shiny piece of silverware to hang on your wall in the kitchen. Simple, right?
However, for some – namely Matthew Richardson, Nick Riewoldt and Sav Rocca – it was unachievable. Because the standard of defending is so high in the AFL nowadays, key forwards are finding it harder and harder to kick big hauls on opposition defenders week-in week-out.
Despite this, there will still be a victor no matter if the winning figure is 70 goals or 40, and with season 2022 hotting up as one of the most anticipated campaigns in recent memory, it’s time to list who are the top five Coleman Medal candidates for the upcoming season as we entertain the best punters that hold bonus codes for 2022.
5. Joe Daniher
Joe Daniher had a relatively successful first year in Queensland with the Lions, finishing 2021 with 46 goals in 24 appearances.
Considering his last three seasons were persistently marred by injury, Daniher did well to both stay fit as well as keep booting majors, only being held goalless in a game during his side’s qualifying final loss to the Demons.
2021 was his second-most fruitful campaign in front of the sticks after 2017, with the 27-year-old managing a huge haul of 65 goals after 23 games to finish fourth in the Coleman Medal tally throughout that year.
Coming into his second year under Chris Fagan, it seems that the worst of Daniher’s injury problems are indeed behind him, and with a midfield containing Lachie Neale, Dayne Zorko, Hugh McCluggage and periodically Zac Bailey and Cam Rayner, it feels that if Joe is going to win his maiden Coleman then 2022 is the year where it could happen.
With Charlie Cameron being the main man for Brisbane last year, it’s on Daniher to step up and claim the forward-line as his own.
4. Tom Lynch
This one may ruffle a few feathers, however, when Tom Lynch is on his game, good luck getting a hand on him.
The 29-year-old has had a tumultuous last 12 months with his Richmond side having a horribly below-standard 2021 after injuries and a shortened pre-season finally caught up with the reigning premiers.
Lynch managed 35 goals in 18 games for the Tigers, 16 behind forward partner Jack Riewoldt and 27 behind eventual winner Harry McKay.
The former Sun made himself public enemy number one during the 2020 season for his unsociable acts off the ball, however throughout his maiden Richmond season in 2019 the tall target managed 54 majors during the year with a further 11 goals coming throughout the Tigers’ three finals.
Although the Tigers midfield brigade is somewhat ageing and very well may not have the energy that propelled them to three flags in four years, Lynch still has an innate talent for spotting space and disguising his run to shake off his defender.
If he can keep up some consistency and kick straighter, then there is no reason why Lynch can’t be up the top end of the Coleman chart come Round 23.
3. Lance Franklin
It wouldn’t be a Coleman race without the legendary Lance Franklin. The superstar is only a mere five goals away from entering rare air in the form of having 1000 goals to his name.
The four-time Coleman medallist has had a stunted few years for the Swans, missing 2020 entirely through injury, however, his return in 2021 saw him boot 51 goals in 18 matches for John Longmire’s side, averaging just under three goals a game.
At 35 years of age, you get the feeling that ‘Buddy’ would be thinking about hanging up the boots in the imminent future, however, claiming that elusive goalkicking feat would put the icing on top of what is already a truly remarkable year.
The Swans’ midfield is young but oozing with class – something that Franklin would be salivating at when thinking about the service he could receive from them whilst plying his trade in attack.
Similarly to Daniher, if he can stay fit and keep his performances up there is every chance that ‘Buddy’ could tie with John Coleman himself for having the third most leading goalkicker awards ever.
2. Tom Hawkins
‘The Tomahawk’ came so close in 2021 to winning a second consecutive Coleman Medal, losing out to winner Harry McKay by just four majors.
The dual premiership Cat is playing within a team that is in its twilight years of glory, edging ever so closer to an unavoidable rebuild that could keep the Cats out of competitiveness for some time if done incorrectly.
Hawkins is known for his huge frame and pinpoint set-shot, with the 102kg man-mountain a sight to behold when streaking out of the goalsquare onto the end of a weighted kick.
The big man booted 54 goals throughout the home-and-away season, with his biggest haul in a year being in 2014 where he managed 62 across the 23-round fixture.
Many are expecting for this to be the year that Geelong finally drop off the cliff, however there is still plenty left for ‘The Tomahawk’ to give and should he replicate the form of his previous two campaigns, he could be right up there come the end of the year.
1. Harry McKay
It’s hard to look past big Harry for this season’s award after such an impressive breakout year in 2021.
The 24-year-old booted a winning total of 58 goals in his 19 appearances for the Blues, averaging just over three majors per match in a year when the club’s resolve was tested to its absolute max both on and off-field.
Week in week out he was a menace for opposition defenders, booting big bags against the likes of Fremantle, Brisbane and St Kilda, flexing his muscles as a true elite key forward.
There was conjecture last year surrounding where his future might lie with him being off-contract at the end of 2021, however the big man put pen to paper eventually, signing a two-year deal to keep him at Carlton until the end of 2023.
With the likes of Adam Cerra and George Hewett strengthening the Blues in 2022, plus the appointment of new coach Michael Voss, there is genuine excitement around Ikon Park about where the club will go in the future.
McKay will no doubt relish the opportunity to play with such classy players and will thrive off the service he is given from his midfield brigade, hence why he is our favourite to take out the medal in 2022.
