Neil Craig presented the award at Melbourne’s Crown Casino in front of 500 guests, recognising Downs’ 20 years of service to the Adelaide Football Club and 56 years of service to club football including South Adelaide and West Adelaide.
‘BJ’ as he is affectionately known, joined the South Adelaide Football Club in 1952, winning back to back Senior Colts Best & Fairest in 1953/54. He played both League and Reserves for the next 10 years, finishing up as a player in 1964. Downs also spent 18 years at West Adelaide and held various roles during this time, including the position of Team Manager for 16 years.
In 1991 he joined the Adelaide Football Club as Team Manager - a role he still holds to this day, and he has been present at every Adelaide premiership game.
Collingwood’s Dane Swan won his first AFLCA Player of the Year Award with 114 votes ahead of Luke Hodge (88) and Joel Selwood (80). Adelaide’s Scott Thompson finished 10th with 62 votes.
Collingwood Coach Mick Malthouse was announced as the Senior Coach of the Year, an award Neil Craig won in 2005.
Fremantle midfielder Stephen Hill was voted the best young player, Brendan McCartney from Geelong was voted the assistant coach of the year, and Ron Barassi was announced as the AFLCA’s second ‘Coaching Legend’.
Champion Player of the Year 2010 votes:
114 Dane Swan (Collingwood)
88 Luke Hodge (Hawthorn)
80 Joel Selwood (Geelong)
75 Aaron Sandilands ( Fremantle)
71 Chris Judd (Carlton)
70 Gary Ablett (Geelong)
69 Lenny Hayes ( St Kilda)
67 Paul Chapman (Geelong)
65 Brendon Goddard (St Kilda)
62 Scott Thompson (Adelaide)
Past Award Winners include:
Senior Coach of Year
2003 Paul Roos Sydney
2004 Mark Williams Port Adelaide
2005 Neil Craig Adelaide
2006 John Worsfold West Coast
2007 Mark Thompson Geelong
2008 Mark Thompson Geelong
2009 Ross Lyon St Kilda
Champion Player of the Year
2003 Nathan Buckley Collingwood
2004 Warren Tredrea Port Adelaide
2005 Barry Hall Sydney
2006 Simon Goodwin Adelaide
& Adam Goodes Sydney
2007 Gary Ablett Geelong
2008 Gary Ablett Geelong
2009 Gary Ablett Geelong
Assistant Coach of Year
2003 Neil Craig Adelaide
2004 Phil Walsh Port Adelaide
2005 Robert Wiley West Coast
2006 John Longmire Sydney
2007 Tony Micale West Coast
2008 Tony Elshaug St Kilda
2009 Mark Riley Carlton
Best Young Player
2003 Chris Judd West Coast
2004 Daniel Wells Kangaroos
2005 Adam Cooney Western Bulldogs
2006 Ryan Griffen Western Bulldogs
2007 Scott Pendlebury Collingwood
2008 Joel Selwood Geelong
2009 Cyril Rioli Hawthorn
Support Staff Leadership
2003 Barry Gavin Hawthorn
2004 Bill Sutherland West Coast
2005 Eddie Walsh Western Bulldogs
2006 Ted Soderblom Richmond
2007 Noel Judkins Essendon/Collingwood
2008 Shane O’Sullivan Carlton / Brisbane Bears
2009 Ken Whiffen St Kilda
Lifetime Achievement
2003 Haydn Bunton Jnr W.A.
2004 Neil Kerley S.A.
2005 John Todd W.A.
2006 Dr John Grant VIC
2007 Wally Miller S.A.
2008 Ian Ridley Melbourne
2009 Dr Bruce Reid/Dr Ian Reynolds Essendon
