As the countdown to the Syd Barker Club Champion Dinner continues, NMFC.com.au is taking a closer look at who might take home the best and fairest award.
While Robbie Tarrant looms as a potential favourite after a huge finish to the year, there’s been plenty of Kangaroos putting their hands up during the Roos’ 2016 campaign.
With finals still to come, the race for the Syd Barker Medal is well and truly open.
Jack Ziebell
In his most consistent season to date, Jack Ziebell has been a general for North through the midfield in 2016.
The vice-captain set the tone in the very first round, racking up 26 disposals and 7 clearances to help his team to a come-from-behind win over Adelaide.
In Round 3 he laid a remarkable 19 tackles, a then record-equaling figure against Melbourne, and by Round 5 he’d received votes from the coaches in every game to that point.
Such has been his consistency, Ziebell has amassed 18 disposals or more in all but one game, his season-high of 30 coming against Richmond in Round 11.
He has also been able to hit the scoreboard, booting 17 goals during the home and away season to finish seventh on the club’s goal-kicking list.
Ziebell sits third at the club for clearances (100), third for disposals (493) and second for tackles (110).
After finishing fifth in the vote count last year, and with statistical improvements in most of the key areas, the number 7 could be right in the mix for the club’s top award come season's end.
Best game
Round 4 v Melbourne
19 disposals, 19 tackles, 6 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal
By the numbers
Disposals: 493 (avg. 22.4 a game)
Goals: 17 (avg. 0.77 a game)
Tackles: 110 (avg. 5 a game)
Clearances: 101 (avg. 4.6 a game)
Inside 50s: 101 (avg. 4.6 a game)
Coaches votes: 42 – 2nd at NMFC (polled in 9 games)
The Syd Barker Club Champion Dinner will be held on Friday October 7, 2016 at Peninsula on Central Pier.
