So when all is said and done and the points are counted we reach an historic moment in this awards history with a tied outcome. Lock Adam Coleman and flanker Sean McMahon both finished in equal top spot and we just couldn’t split them.
Back in 2011 we had our first ever tie when Will Genia and David Pocock both scored the same number of points, while just three years later James Slipper, Tevita Kuridrani and Michael Hooper finished the 2014 season equal. The standard GAGR POTY tie-breaker rewards consistency so the player who gets points in the most number of games, on each occasion, ended up with the chocolates.
However both McMahon and Coleman scored points in five matches each, so there’s no way to split them then. After that we look at the number of Player of the Match performances they put in. Again, though, the two couldn’t be split as they both picked up the maximum 3 points in three games.
So, bugger it, we give it to both of them. And when we say give it to them we actually haven’t physically given them anything just yet as Adam is still on holidays after his massive season while Sean has already departed for Japan. We’ll get something for Coleman in the next few weeks but Sean will have to forgo a trophy (as Genia did last year) as a consequence for abandoning us!
But seriously it’s difficult to split the two and I think the reward is due recognition for two of our best this season. Unfortunately we may not see McMahon ever again in the Wallaby jersey, which is devastating considering his breakthrough yea. Coleman managed to avoid any potential second year syndrome with a particularly strong start to the international season.
Congrats to Adam and Sean on the award and thanks to all our contributors who participated in the process.
Now let us never speak of 2017 again.
