MATTHEW LLOYD, MICHAEL NEWTON WIN GOAL AND MARK OF
THE YEAR Ben Jensen 27 September 2007
By Ben Jensen ESSENDON'S MATTHEW LLOYD AND MELBOURNE'S
MICHAEL NEWTON have won the AFL's official Toyota Goal and Mark of the
year awards. Lloyd's freakish backheel will divide opinion, as although
intentional was a bit of a party trick. Newton's mark, however, was
a gem.
AFL Press Release:
Melbourne's Michael Newton and Essendon's Matthew Lloyd were presented
with the 2007 Toyota AFL Mark and Goal of the Year awards, today,
Thursday September 27 at the AFL Live Site, Federation Square.
Newton's mark came in the second quarter of Melbourne's
round 16 match against the Kangaroos at the Telstra Dome. The ball
came long to the Melbourne half-forward line where Newton climbed
high over team mate David Neitz and Kangaroos defenders Glenn Archer
and Leigh Brown to take a spectacular mark.
Lloyd's goal came in the third quarter of the Round
20 match against Carlton at the MCG. The ball came into Essendon's
goalsquare after a long kick from Angus Monfries with Lloyd locked
in a marking contest with Carlton's Jarrad Waite. The ball spilt to
the ground, Lloyd gathered the ball and with his back to the goals,
he back-heeled it through for a remarkable goal.
Each week of the home and away season, three nominations
for the Toyota AFL Mark and Goal of the Year were posted on the AFL
website for fans to vote for the weekly winner. At the end of the
season, the AFL All-Australian Selection Committee voted on the overall
winner in each award from the list of weekly winners from throughout
the season.
Matthew and Michael will each receive:
$5,000 for their grassroots Club, presented by Toyota;
The use of a Toyota Kluger CV for 12 months;
The Alex Jesaulenko Medal (mark) and Phil Manassa
Medal
(goal), presented by Toyota;
A crystal replica of the official, perpetual Toyota
AFL Mark
of the Year and Toyota AFL Goal of the Year trophies, presented by
the
AFL and Toyota.
