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Goal of the Year (AFL)

Australian rules football award

Australian rules football award

The Goal of the Year is a competition for the best goal kicked in the Australian Football League (AFL) during that season. It is run in conjunction with the Mark of the Year competition and is currently sponsored by Rebel Sport. The winner is awarded the Phil Manassa Medal. The concept of awards for the goal and mark of the year is thought to have been initiated in 1970, as an unofficial award given by the media to Alex Jesaulenko following his famous mark in that season's grand final. The official awards were first given in 2001. Eddie Betts has been awarded Goal of the Year on an unparalleled four occasions (2006, 2015, 2016 and 2019), the most of any player, and is the only player to win the award in consecutive seasons.

Selection process

Each week, three of the best goals of the round are selected as nominees. A panel of AFL selectors choose the winning goal of the round.

For the first time in 2006, the general public were able to vote for nominated goals via the AFL's website. The results of the public voting are combined with the panel's votes. Any one of the goals judged to be the best of the round are able to win the official Goal of the Year.

At the conclusion of the AFL home and away season, the AFL Game Analysis Committee will select the best three goals from a selection of 30 (the 25 round winners, along with 5 other contenders as determined by AFL Media). The best three will be based on a 5/4/3/2/1 vote given by each member of the selection committee. Voting will open after the AFL home and away season for the AFL Goal of the Year and the overall winner will be selected by the AFL Game Analysis Committee (counted as 10 votes) and by public voting (counted as 1 vote). The winning player of the AFL Goal of the Year will be announced at the Brownlow Medal.

Goal of the Year is generally awarded to a player who creates and scores a difficult goal in play; it has never been, and is unlikely to ever be, awarded to a goal kicked from a set shot. Historically, it has been the quality of the creation of the goal which determines the winner, rather than the difficulty of the shot itself. As such, simply kicking a goal from the boundary line will not guarantee a player Goal of the Year, but if they have roved the ball cleanly off a pack (like Jason Akermanis in 2002) or won the ball by stealing or smothering it from an opponent (like Peter Bosustow in 1981), then they will generally come into Goal of the Year calculations. Players are also often rewarded for orchestrating a long run down the field which ends with a big goal on the run: Daniel Kerr in 2003 and Michael McGuane in 1994 are memorable examples.

Many of the best goals in the VFL/AFL were featured in a VHS/DVD named Golden Goals.

VFL/AFL

SeasonWinnerTeamDescriptionVideoOfficial winners
1976North Melbourne
1977CollingwoodManassa kicked a goal on the run from the half back flank in the 1977 Grand Final replay against North Melbourne,****
1978Rod Ashman (ABC)CarltonAshman receives the ball near the left forward pocket at Moorabbin from a ruck contest and kicks a left foot goal on the run, into the breeze, from around 30-40 metres out.
North Melbourne
1979HawthornTook several detours to avoid North Melbourne opposition to score from the pocket in the first VFL game in Sydney since 1952.
Stan Alves (ABC)North MelbourneRound 17. Evades two Richmond opponents and kicks a right foot goal from approximately 40 metres out.
1980(ABC)GeelongThree bounces and one baulk from the wing and a shot from 50 metres.
1981CarltonSmothered his Geelong opponent's attempted clearing kick 20 metres around in the right forward pocket at VFL Park before standing, gathering and snapping a high goal over his right shoulder.
David Twomey (ABC)CollingwoodOn a wet day he collects the ball at half-back and takes 3 bounces before kicking the goal.
1982(ABC)North MelbourneBlight drops a contested mark on the right wing, recovers the resulting loose ball, baulks two opponents at once, and then kicks a goal from the right forward flank boundary line about 40 metres out with his non-preferred left foot.
1983Paul Meldrum (ABC)CarltonMeldrum gathers the ball in the forward pocket at Waverley Park and evades 4 Essendon player tackles to snap a goal
Michael Conlan (Seven)FitzroyConlan receives the ball at half-forward, baulks two Carlton players to kick his goal.
1984Collingwood
Michael Conlan (ABC)FitzroyConlan taps the ball back into play close to the right boundary line pocket at Waverley Park, then receives a follow-up handball (from over his head) from teammate Wilson, then rides a bump against Trevor Barker and kicks a left foot snap 15 metres out.
1985GeelongA long run at Kardinia Park in which Bews baulked two would-be tacklers and bounced three times; 40 m out from goal, Bews attempted to touch the ball on the ground, fumbled and overran the ball before changing direction, recovering the ball and eventually slotting the goal from 30 m.
Greg Burns (ABC)St KildaAt Victoria Park, Burns marks on the wing, takes three bounces, evades a diving Fitzroy opponent at half forward, bounces again, weaves past a pack of Fitzroy and St Kilda player and kicks a left foot goal from about 40 metres out.
1986(Seven) (ABC)North MelbourneGrabbed ball on the boundary line and ran around Frank Dunell before kicking a sensational goal from the boundary with his left foot. (Also was Runner-up this year)
1987(ABC)Sydney SwansAfter the Swans scored a behind, Murphy took a spectacular mark over an opponent's back from a long kick-in; he then quickly played on and kicked truly from more than 50 m away at an acute angle (from the left side).
1988North MelbourneSpun around three West Coast players, snapping miraculously from the pocket.
1989GeelongDropped a contested mark in the middle of the ground and then ran onto the loose ball at full speed, bursting into the forward line and snapping truly from 50 m vs Collingwood (MCG).
1990RichmondGathered the ball in his own defensive area and set off on a blistering 70-metre run through the centre of the Sydney Cricket Ground, escaping a number of would-be tacklers and taking seven bounces before kicking truly from 35 metres out.
1991CollingwoodBaulk and snap from the pocket vs. Richmond at Victoria Park.
1992Brisbane BearsFollowed up a short kick that did not travel to the leading forward by kicking a ripper at Carrara from 30 m
1993EssendonRan and bounced several times for a controversial goal in the 1993 Grand Final. It was allegedly touched on the line by Carlton full-back Stephen Silvagni, who to this day claims he touched it before sailing through for a goal.****
1994CollingwoodIn one of the most famous of all time, oft compared to Phil Manassa's famous 1977 Grand Final run, McGuane had a total of seven bounces from the centre square, baulking two tackle attempts before kicking truly from 30 m at the MCG against Carlton.****
1995AdelaideKicked the ball off the ground 35 m from goal; his scrubbed kick rolled to the forward pocket, finishing at the feet of Richmond full back Stuart Wigney. Modra followed up his kick, making up 30 metres of ground to soccer the ball away from Wigney, gather the loose ball, and then snap a beautiful goal from 20 metres out hard on the boundary.
1996MelbourneFarmer gathers the ball 20 metres from goal, evades two tackles in quick succession and kicks a right foot banana goal.
1997St KildaRan hard from defensive 50 and took several bounces along the wing, handballed to Andrew Thompson at forward 50, received the ball back and snapped a spectacular goal in the 1997 AFL Grand Final.
1998MelbourneFarmer collected the ball in the defensive 50 and, running the length of the ground, passed the ball off and received it back twice, evaded multiple opposition players, and kicked a torpedo goal from 55 metres out close to the boundary line.
1999Brisbane LionsMolloy picks up the ball just outside 50m near the boundary, and on the run handballs out in front, then taps the ball onto a teammate before running on to receive the handball, and kicking a right foot checkside from the pocket.
2000Western BulldogsRunning from the defensive 50, he kept going and laid a handball off to Scott Wynd, received it back at centre wing, lined up from forward 50 and slotted it home (was awarded on Rex Hunt's Footy Panel).
2001West Coast EaglesPaddled the ball from outside 50 along the boundary line towards goal and snapped it through from the pocket against St. Kilda at the Telstra Dome.****
2002Brisbane LionsA snap shot from 45 metres out on his non-preferred left boot, along the boundary line while turning around to the left of the goals against Carlton at the Gabba in Round 14.****
2003West Coast EaglesReceived the football at half-back, before taking 5 bounces and finishing from 48 m out, late in a famous Derby against Fremantle.
2004KangaroosDescribed as "Jackie Chan in mid-air", Wells leapt into the air, grabbed the ball out of the ruck and kicked in one motion in the goal square at Subiaco, giving North Melbourne a narrow victory over Fremantle.****
2005West Coast EaglesBurst from a boundary throw in on the half forward flank, spun out of a tackle and kicked truly from about 40 metres out at Subiaco oval.
2006CarltonSmothered Tarkyn Lockyer's handball, gathered the ball and, with two opposition players surrounding him, kicked a freakish banana from the boundary and kicked truly.****
2007EssendonMatthew Lloyd back-heeled the goal through a pack of players from 5 metres out in an innovative unorthodox drop kick in a moment of quick thinking.
2008CollingwoodIn the final home-and-away Friday night match, Leon Davis tackled Fremantle player Des Headland in Fremantle's defensive 50 and knocked the ball out of the scruffle; as he picked the ball up, he broke a tackle and then ran 10 metres before kicking an amazing drop punt from 50 m out on the boundary. Dennis Cometti adding the words "of the season" after Bruce McAvaney called out "goal".
2009In the Round 7 match against Essendon, Rioli managed to evade numerous defenders to weave his way into a position to handball to teammate Chance Bateman before receiving the ball back and kicking a goal from 40 metres out.****
2010Round 13 goal against Essendon at the MCG, where Franklin outsprinted Cale Hooker from the wing to boot truly from around 50 metres out from near the left boundary line (Franklin is left-footed, making the angle even more acute)****
2011FremantleRound 2 goal against Geelong at Subiaco Oval. Ballantyne ran through the centre of the ground before kicking the ball inside 50. He received a follow-up handball from Matthew Pavlich and slotted the goal from 40 metres out in a team-lifting effort.****
2012CarltonRound 1 goal against Richmond at the MCG. Received a handball from Chris Judd between left wing and half-forward flank. Ran along the boundary past Richmond opponents Dustin Martin, Ivan Maric and Steven Morris, Yarran broke tackles from Maric and Morris before slotting the game-changing goal from 40 metres out.****
2013Round 3 goal against Collingwood at the MCG. Received a handball from Ben Stratton in the centre square, jumped over a tackled Stratton and went on to kick the goal from 75 metres out.****
2014Round 17 goal against Richmond at Etihad Stadium. White gathered the ball at half-back, ran full tilt up the wing with three bounces, burning off a chasing Steven Morris in the process, before unloading from 50m to goal.****
2015Round 9 goal against Fremantle at Adelaide Oval. Kicked inside-out with his left foot from the left-hand boundary from nearly 50 metres out on the boundary line. The ball was expertly swung in the air to bounce through an unguarded goal square.****
2016Round 10 goal against Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval. Betts successfully trapped and gathered the ball on the boundary line 50m out from goal after a spoiled marking contest. Betts then evades two GWS players before kicking a goal with a right foot snap from 35m out.****
2017Round 3 goal against West Coast at the MCG, Rioli successfully kept the ball in bounds up against the boundary line and kicked a right foot banana on the run 35m out from goal.
2018Round 19 goal against Collingwood at the MCG; under pressure and standing behind the goal line but keeping the ball in play, Higgins dropped the ball around the goal post and kicked it backwards over his head
2019Round 5 goal against Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval. In his 300th game, Betts kicked a classic left-footed banana from about 30 metres out on the boundary line of the same left hand pocket as his 2015 and 2016 Goal of the Year winners.
2020Round 10 goal against Sydney at the Gabba. Daicos was on the boundary line under pressure, handballs it in front of himself and the Sydney defender, then picking it up again and kicking a right foot banana 30 metres out on the boundary. A kick reminiscent of one his father Peter would frequently kick.
2021Round 22 goal against West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium. Ball was kept in by Adam Cerra, who gave to Mitch Crowden, who broke a tackle before handpassing to Serong, who was knocked to the ground by Dom Sheed before getting up again and kicking the checkside goal from deep in the right forward pocket. Anthony Hudson's call of "Serong, so right" immortalised the goal.
2022Round 18 goal against Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium. Ruckman Draper gathered the ball directly from the centre bounce, sprinted towards the 50m arc, executed a one–two handpass with Matt Guelfi, side-stepped Suns defender Charlie Ballard before successfully slotting a banana kick from 25 metres out on a slight angle.
2023Round 7 goal against Fremantle at the Gabba. From the pocket and under pressure, Ashcroft collected the ball in mid-air and brought it down onto his boot in one smooth motion all before landing back on the ground, kicking an incredible goal from the outside of the boot on a tight angle.
2024Round 10 goal against Melbourne (Narrm) at Optus Stadium. Reid grabbed the ball one handed from the ruck tap on the defensive side of the centre circle. He sprinted at full pace taking three bounces with Christian Petracca chasing him, kicking the goal from just inside 50 on the run.
2025Round 18 goal against at People's First Stadium. Anderson took the ball from a centre bounce before handballing off to Lachie Weller, then received a return handball pass from Weller to sprint with the ball and kick straight from about 40 metres from goal at a crucial point late in the match.

AFL Women's

SeasonWinnerTeamDescriptionVideo
2017Round 3 goal against Carlton at Thebarton Oval. Phillips takes a mark and bombs a long goal from outside the 50-metre arc.
2018Round 2 goal against Adelaide at Casey Fields. Newman collects the ball on the wing, takes three bounces into the forward pocket and kicks a 20-metre banana.
2019Round 2 goal against Brisbane at Fremantle Oval. Sharp collects the ball in the centre of the ground, takes two bounces and completes the shot from 40 metres out from goal.
2020Round 6 goal against Carlton at Traeger Park. Hore collects the ball in the middle of the ground, takes three bounces to reach inside 50, passes it off to a teammate, receives it back and then snaps on a sharp angle from 10 metres out.
2021Round 9 goal against at Casey Fields. Hodder was at the edge of the 50-metre arc, where she kicks it up to herself, and kicks a right foot drop punt from tight on the boundary.
2022 (S6)Round 1 goal against at Fremantle Oval. Antonio gathers 50 metres out on the boundary, evades an opponent, and kicks a goal from 30m out on the boundary off the outside of her boot.
2022 (S7)Round 10 goal against at Henson Park. At full pace, Bush tapped the ball on from wide out inside the 50-metre arc, then gathered and kicked a right foot snap with the outside of her boot, from just inside the boundary line approximately 30m from goal.
2023Round 10 goal against at Victoria Park. Greiser gathered the ball just in front of the left behind post and kicked a right foot snap with the outside of her boot, slotting the goal just before crossing the boundary line.
2024Week 6 goal against at Norwood Oval. Munyard received a handball on the boundary near the forward flank before outpacing several defenders to slot a check-side goal from the pocket.

References

References

  1. (28 September 2009). "Burton, Rioli win mark and goal of the year". [[Australian Football League]].
  2. "Goal of the Year: Prizes and Terms".
  3. elchubenibre. (1 June 2008). "Phil Manassa".
  4. (9 September 2012). "1977 AFL Goal of the Year - Phil Manassa".
  5. Rhettrospective. (2024-12-05). "1978 ABC "Goal of the Year" - Rod Ashman (Carlton), also includes nominees".
  6. Gezza1967. (2017-08-27). "1979 Marks & Goals of the year Channel 2".
  7. (12 December 2024). "- YouTube".
  8. Rhettrospective. (2024-12-17). "David Twomey wins 1981 ABC Goal of the Year.".
  9. (24 July 2014). "Goal and Mark of the year 1982 - ABC".
  10. aussie80s. (2021-02-19). "The Winners 1983 Preliminary Final".
  11. Phil Johnson. (2017-11-10). "World of Sport 1983 VFL Grand Final review".
  12. xtremeactionvideos. (2018-03-17). "The Winners (ABC)1984 Mark and Goal of the Year Competition".
  13. Rhettrospective. (2025-01-06). "1985 ABC Goal of the Year nominees and winner Greg Burns".
  14. Rhettrospective. (2024-11-18). "Phil Krakouer awarded 1986 Goal of the Year (and the Runner-up too!)".
  15. Rhettrospective. (2025-01-13). "1986 ABC Goal of the Year announcement. Jim Krakouer.".
  16. Rhettrospective. (2025-01-15). "1987 ABC Goal and Mark of the Year winners".
  17. Rhettrospective. (2025-02-26). "1991 AFL Goal of the Year nominees and winner announcement. Peter Daicos.".
  18. elchubenibre. (21 March 2007). "Michael longs awesome goal".
  19. elchubenibre. (2 February 2010). "Michael McGuane splits the blue sea".
  20. Rhettrospective. (2023-12-30). "Jeff Farmer wins Ch7 Goal of the Year 1996".
  21. Rhettrospective. (2024-08-16). "1999 AFL Ch7 Goal of the Year nominees and winner.".
  22. rem120. (29 July 2006). "2001 AFL Goal of the Year".
  23. elchubenibre. (13 February 2008). "Jason Akermanis Kicks the Goal Of The Year of 2002".
  24. qazplm1029384756. (9 November 2009). "Daniel Kerr 2003 Goal Of The Year".
  25. (2004-09-07). "New faces galore in All-Australian team". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  26. JWS10. (30 January 2007). "Daniel Wells goal of the year".
  27. [http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200509/s1469606.htm]{{dead link. (October 2018)
  28. Rhettrospective. (2025-01-29). "2005 Goal of the Year announcement".
  29. (2006-10-01). "Betts' goal provides Blues' bright spot". The Age.
  30. Rhettrospective. (2025-02-09). "2006 AFL Goal of the Year announcement. Eddie Betts.".
  31. SR B. (9 May 2009). "2009 AFL Goal of the Year - Cyril Rioli".
  32. (13 September 2010). "Jurrah and Franklin scoop mark, goal honours". AFL BigPond Network.
  33. Richard Nguyen. (14 September 2010). "AFL - 2010 Goal Of The Year - Lance Franklin".
  34. rbevo13. (19 September 2011). "AFL Goal of the Year 2011".
  35. Carlton Football Club. (11 September 2012). "Chris Yarran - 2012 Goal of the Year".
  36. (February 2022). "YouTube".
  37. Port Adelaide Football Club. (12 July 2014). "Matt White - 2014 AFL Goal of the Year".
  38. AFL. (30 May 2015). "Eddie Betts kicks an unbelievable goal - AFL".
  39. "Daw soars and Eddie electrifies to claim Mark and Goal of the Year - AFL.com.au". afl.com.au.
  40. (25 September 2017). "Daniel Rioli's magic on the boundary wins AFL goal of the year". The Roar.
  41. (24 September 2018). "Higgins wins AFL goal of the year". RichmondFC.com.au.
  42. (23 September 2019). "Four times a charm for Eddie, Ryan flies high for big award". AFL.com.au.
  43. Black, Sarah. (18 October 2020). "Rising stars upstage big guns to take out MOTY, GOTY awards".
  44. (19 September 2021). "Be amazed! Serong wins Goal of the Year". AFL.
  45. (18 September 2022). "Power forward's hanger, big Don's stunner win Mark and Goal of the Year". AFL.
  46. (4 May 2023). "Mid-air MAGIC from Ashcroft 🪄".
  47. (23 September 2024). "2024 Goal of the Year winner announced".
  48. (22 September 2025). "Towering Bulldog, Suns captain win Mark and Goal of the Year".
  49. (1 January 2018). "AFLW: The best goals of 2017". womens.afl.
  50. (27 March 2018). "AFLW: Goal of the year - 2018". AFL Media.
  51. (25 March 2019). "AFLW Goal of the Year - vote now". womens.afl.
  52. (26 April 2020). "Watch: Mark and Goal of the Year revealed". womens.afl.
  53. (1 April 2021). "Lions livewire doing what she does best". womens.afl.
  54. (5 April 2022). "Antonio's stunner takes out Goal of the Year". womens.afl.
  55. (22 November 2022). "AFLW Goal of the Year: Ashanti Bush".
  56. (27 November 2023). "Caitlin Greiser awarded the 2023 rebel AFLW Goal of the Year".
  57. (25 November 2024). "Magnificent Munyard kicks Goal of the Year".
  58. (25 November 2024). "2024 NAB AFLW Goal of the Year: Hannah Munyard". AFL Women's.
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