FAFL 360: Finals Week 1, 2023

Match Results:
First Qualifying Final:
Brisbane Brumbies 11.7 (73) lost to Perth Ospreys 12.3 (75) at The Gabba in Brisbane, QLD.

First Elimination Final:
Adelaide Butcherbirds 19.15 (129) defeated Geelong Rush 12.7 (79) at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, SA.

Second Qualifying Final:
Orange Miners 17.10 (112) lost to Wellington Vipers 25.8 (158) at Bloomfield Oval in Orange, NSW.

Second Elimination Final:
Gold Coast Dragons 13.19 (97) defeated Cairns Corals 10.14 (74) at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast, QLD.

2023 Jimmy Newman Medal and FAFLPA Award Nominees:
Jimmy Newman Medal for Best Rookie:
Angelo Marrin (Adelaide Butcherbirds)
Errol Cook (Perth Ospreys)
Fallshcrim Fledermaus (Orange Miners)
Trent Poyer (Hobart Wolves)
Yan Ishida (Perth Ospreys)

Most Improved Player:
Cobi Williams (Geelong Rush)
Justina Henry (Orange Miners)
Radhika Saxena (Fremantle Panthers)
Raven Stringer (Cairns Corals)
Rosa Powers (Melbourne City Mariners)

Coach of the Year:
Hunter Ambrose (Perth Osperys)
Kelli Jennings (Wellington Vipers)
Rupert Dewsi (Orange Miners)
Tarni Campbell (Adelaide Butcherbirds)
Zoe Burnley (Brisbane Brumbies)

Best Captain:
Brett Sanchez (Wellington Vipers)
Douglas Guillen (Adelaide Butcherbirds)
Lou-Lou Fry (Brisbane Brumbies)
Matthew Blake (Gold Coast Dragons)
Piero Abatangelo (Perth Ospreys)

Best Veteran Player:
Aiden Edison (Geelong Rush)
Brandon Thorton (Wellington Vipers)
James Reid (Adelaide Butcherbirds)
Steve Beale (Perth Ospreys)
Willy Kellogg (Cairns Corals)

Best Interchange Player:
Brodie Woods (Wellington Vipers)
Jasper Wendell (Darwin Storm)
Niles Hobbs (East Sydney Roosters)
Samir Patel (Adelaide Butcherbirds)
Sarah Dawson (Cairns Corals)

Best International Player:
Dee Ashcroft (Hobart Wolves)
Gunārs Krūmiņš (Adelaide Butcherbirds)
Hellä Venäläinen (Cairns Corals)
Jay Samuelson (Adelaide Butcherbirds)
Zach Everett (Wellington Vipers)

Winners will be announced during the 2023 C.J. Willing Trophy Count.

Previous Jimmy Newman Medal Nominees for 2023:
Round 1: Yan Ishida (Perth Ospreys)
Round 2: Kevin Colt (Wellington Vipers)
Round 3: Angelo Marrin (Adelaide Butcherbirds)
Round 4: Althea Savoy (East Sydney Roosters)
Round 5: Tristan Gold (Geelong Rush)
Round 6: Ryan Corsaire (Brisbane Brumbies)
Round 7: Alice Pitney (Brisbane Brumbies)
Round 8: Rose Milano (Melbourne Hammerheads)
Round 9: Fallschirm Fledermaus (Orange Miners)
Round 10: Ahnar Kwang (Hobart Wolves)
Round 11: Trent Poyer (Hobart Wolves)
Round 12: Errol Cook (Perth Ospreys)
Round 13: Jamie Munro (Geelong Rush)
Round 14: Demari Cook (Geelong Rush)
Round 15: Darrah Ashlee (Gold Coast Dragons)
Round 16: Ethan Cobb (Gold Coast Dragons)
Round 17: Isaiah O’Neal (Wellington Vipers)

2023 Michael “Bendy" Bruce Medal winner:
Brendan Murphy (Gold Coast Dragons) – 67 goals

Current Injuries and Suspensions:
Adelaide Butcherbirds:
Annita Huskey (FWD) – Left Thigh (21 Days) – Returns: Finals Week 3
Douglas Guillen (FWD) – Left Hamstring (21 Days) – Returns: Finals Week 3
Rocco McManus (MID) – Kneeing Alfred Gurns (GEEL) – Returns: Finals Week 3 or Round 1, 2024

Cairns Corals:
Steven McKnight (DEF) – Right Buttock (7 Days) – Returns: Finals Week 3
Myles Cilvantes (MID) – Right Shoulder (40 Days) – Returns: Season 2024

East Sydney Roosters:
Hillary Rier (DEF) – Right MCL Knee (80 Days) – Returns: Season 2024

Gold Coast Dragons:
Mark Jacotine (FWD) – Tail (14 Days) – Returns: Grand Final

Melbourne City Mariners:
Hewie Pearson (MID) – Kicking Joshua Thickscale – Returns: Round 2, 2024

Orange Miners:
Andrew Davis (DEF) – Spine (100 Days) – Returns: Season 2024

Perth Ospreys:
Errol Cook (MID) – Right Ankle (14 Days) – Returns: Finals Week 3
Kofi Mwangi (DEF) – Right Arm (21 Days) – Returns: Finals Week 3
Taylor Sheridan (FWD) – Striking Taylor Howe (BRIS) – Returns: Grand Final or Round 1, 2024

Wellington Vipers:
Cameron Greenwell (DEF) – Left Groin (21 Days) – Returns: Finals Week 3
Carmelita Toney (DEF) – Left AC Joint (70 Days) – Returns: Season 2024

This Week’s Games:
Week 2: Semi Finals
First Semi Final:
Friday November 3rd:
Brisbane Brumbies vs. Adelaide Butcherbirds @ The Gabba, Brisbane QLD (night)

Second Semi Final:
Saturday November 4th:
Orange Miners vs. Gold Coast Dragons @ Bloomfield Oval, Orange NSW (night)

We hope your team wins this week but for now, See you next week.
Wes Kerry, Voice of FAFL Grandstand.