A SCREAMING mark. A mind-blowing goal. A moment of brilliance. It is these moments of spectacular skill and astonishing ability on the footy field that spawn our next footy hero, our next Jesaulenko, Ablett or Hird. There’s always a mark or goal that footy fans relive forever, and the next generation of footy players continue to aspire.
The Toyota AFL Mark and Goal of the Year awards reward the most exciting and memorable parts of our game. They showcase the moments and feats that make our game unique.
Relive the best grabs and goals of round one here, and vote for the round one Toyota AFL Mark and Goal of the Year nominees.
As part of the AFL mark and goal of the year, the players of the winning goal and winning mark each receive $5000 from Toyota to contribute to their grassroots club of choice.
Toyota’s contribution to grassroots clubs helps build the next generation of footy heroes and demonstrates the vehicle manufacturer’s commitment to Australian football.
In 2007, Essendon’s Matthew Lloyd donated $5000 to the Avondale Heights Football Club for his skilful backward kick which scored him the Toyota Goal of the Year. Melbourne’s Michael Newton won the Toyota Mark of the Year Award with his impressive grab against North Melbourne, and donated the $5000 to the Whorouly Football Club.
$5000 can go a long way in a football club. Avondale Heights FC, where Lloyd played his junior footy and helped shape him as a player, did not have an under-18s team in 2006.
The Essendon District Football League told the club that unless it had an under-18s team, its affiliation with the league could be jeopardised. With Lloyd’s assistance and $5000, Avondale Heights used the donation to create a Matthew Lloyd scholarship program.
As part of the initiative, greater emphasis was put into the growth and development of junior players into senior team leaders.
The club now rewards promising under-18s players with the Matthew Lloyd Scholarship.
“This is an important and exciting development for our football club,” says Avondale Heights vice-president Ray Micallef.
“The scholarships will be known as the Matthew Lloyd Scholarships in recognition of the contribution that Matthew has made to this club.
“The scholarships will be aimed at a number of our promising under-18 players that we recognise as having sporting ability, personal attributes and the potential to become senior players in the very near future.”
Toyota Mark of the Year winner Michael Newton, drafted to the Demons in 2004 from small country club Whorouly in Victoria's north-east, donated $5000 to the Whorouly Football Club.
Like many other football grounds in Victoria, hot temperatures and minimal rain have left Whorouly Football Ground dry and failing.
In many rural towns, sport is the main social outlet. But when local football communities face the possibility that some teams or leagues may miss out on playing altogether, the social fabric of small communities can begin to unravel.
The Toyota prize money will assist in the building of a new watering and sprinkler system at the ground.
“Our wish was to use the money in a way that benefited the whole community, not just the football club and we believe this project will benefit everyone,” said club president John Matheson.
The new watering system - which includes installation of water tanks - will aid in keeping the Whorouly ground drought proof.
“It will be great to be able to maintain a lush green ground for all our user groups which, apart from our local football and cricket teams, is also used often by the local primary school and other schools and teams within the district for interclub games,” Matheson said.
In 2008, Toyota will continue to support and contribute to grassroots football clubs by awarding the Mark and Goal of the Year Award winners $5000 each to donate to their club of choice.
Help decide the 2008 Toyota AFL Mark and Goal of the Year awards.
