The first in our series of unsung heroes for the 2022 AFL Premiership season.
Players, fans, umpires, coaches.
If you’re involved with the AFL, you have the chance to make the cut.
Unsung hero #1
Alex Davies' grandpa
All the way from Japan!
Gold Coast Suns youngster Alex Davies had his grandpa jet over from Japan to watch him be part of a 43-point victory against Adelaide on Sunday.
Davies’ grandpa was the focus of broadcast cameras as he celebrated a goal on the run from 20-year-old.
He even got hauled into singing the club song with the players in the rooms post-game.
Brilliant stuff.
How good is this 🥰
— AFL (@AFL) June 19, 2022
Alex Davies' grandpa travelled from Japan to watch the @GoldCoastSUNS young gun play in the AFL for the first time today.
He got to see Alex kick a goal, and even joined in the team song!#AFLSunsCrows pic.twitter.com/nEZh0h3f28
Unsung hero #2
AFL medicos
Very rarely do the medicos and health staff get a big wrap from the media.
This time, the staff of the Gold Coast Suns were called into action when gun midfielder Will Powell suffered a horrific ankle dislocation.
They were as fast they could be onto the scene of the injury and calmed Powell down when he was in serious distress.
A few puffs of the green whistle and he was on his way to being assessed.
Unsung hero #3
Jack Graham
Dion Prestia stole the headlines in Richmond’s 15-point win over Carlton.
However, he would not have been able to have the 13 clearances and take complete control of the midfield if it was not for Jack Graham.
The 24-year-old midfielder continued his impressive record against the Blues and laid a game-high ten tackles, which was double the next best.
He bullocked and toiled away on a tough night with treacherous conditions.
A fantastic performance from the man they ‘Fridge’ down at Punt Road.
Unsung hero #4
Todd Marshall
It has been a tough year for Port Adelaide.
Charlie Dixon has not been fully fit and is only starting to work into his gears since returning from an ankle injury.
Enter Todd Marshall.
He has been in strong goal-kicking form, and his four snags against Sydney helped Port Adelaide keep its finals hopes alive.
Ken Hinkley said the form of Marshall had made the critics of the tall ‘look silly.’
Unsung hero #5
Lewis Young
He would have to be one of the most in-form key defenders in the league.
A few eyebrows were raised when Carlton list manager Nick Austin decided to nab him from the Western Bulldogs in the off-season.
It was said he would be the backup for the likes of Jacob Weitering, Mitch McGovern, Oscar McDonald and Caleb Marchbank.
Well, he has been as reliable as ever.
He is ranked elite by the AFL for spoils, above average for one-on-one wins, and above average for intercept marks and possessions.
Definitely in career-best form.
