jamie elliott says a 2024 hanger that many expected to earn Mark Of The Year went unrewarded, while his teammate Bobby Hill took the official prize and the financial reward attached to it. The contrast between an unawarded moment and the subsequent payout reframes what counts as recognition in elite sport.
What was not being told about the 2024 hanger?
Shock opening: a high-flying mark from 2024 that Jamie Elliott described in an interview did not receive the Mark Of The Year award, yet the prize—worth $50, 000 plus one million Velocity points—was awarded to his teammate Bobby Hill. The central question: why did a moment widely discussed by those involved fail to secure formal recognition while the sponsor-backed reward landed elsewhere?
Verified facts and documentation: what can be shown
Verified facts:
- Jamie Elliott said the hanger occurred in 2024 and that it was not rewarded with Mark Of The Year. (Jamie Elliott)
- Bobby Hill was the recipient of the Mark Of The Year prize that included $50, 000 and one million Velocity points. (Bobby Hill)
- Collingwood coach Craig McRae discussed Bobby Hill’s return to training and expressed optimism, noting that seeing Hill fit and smiling was encouraging. (Craig McRae, Collingwood coach)
- Craig McRae indicated he thought the timeline for Bobby Hill’s return might be measured in weeks rather than months and described Hill as being in pre-season mode but fitter than expected. (Craig McRae, Collingwood coach)
- Craig McRae confirmed Jeremy Howe and Darcy Moore would return to the side, with a possibility of managed minutes for both. (Craig McRae, Collingwood coach)
- Untried ruckman Oscar Steene was identified as set to receive an AFL opportunity after impressing over the summer. (Craig McRae, Collingwood coach)
- The club has parted ways with Brody Mihocek and Mason Cox in the off-season, and forward connection and scoring potency were described as talking points for the season. (Craig McRae, Collingwood coach)
- Craig McRae referenced a bye-week trip involving Nick Daicos and Roger Curtis in Tasmania and stated that Nick and Josh are thriving in the club environment. (Craig McRae, Collingwood coach)
Stakeholders, analysis and what these facts mean together
Analysis: The juxtaposition of Jamie Elliott’s unawarded 2024 hanger and Bobby Hill’s receipt of a sponsor-funded prize exposes a tension between subjective adjudication and commercial recognition. The prize—$50, 000 and one million Velocity points—constitutes a tangible, marketable reward that may elevate the event beyond on-field appreciation into a commercial outcome.
Craig McRae’s comments about Bobby Hill’s wellbeing and potential rapid return shift the narrative toward player welfare and team planning. McRae’s confirmation that Jeremy Howe and Darcy Moore will return, possibly with managed minutes, and that Oscar Steene will receive an AFL opportunity, frames a club balancing immediate performance needs with player management and succession.
Who benefits: Bobby Hill received the financial and promotional benefit of the award. The club benefits from roster options if Hill returns sooner than expected and from depth in key areas with returning defenders and a new ruck option. Jamie Elliott’s public dissatisfaction—limited to an interview remark—raises reputational questions about how memorable moments are recognized within the sport’s formal awards ecosystem.
Accountability conclusion and next steps: Verified facts show a disjunction between an individual’s recollection of an on-field achievement and the formal awarding process that carries commercial incentives. Transparency is needed about award adjudication criteria and the role of sponsor-backed prizes in shaping which moments are elevated publicly. Club statements about player welfare and selection are clear on intent to manage minutes and integrate returning players, but they do not address recognition of individual moments on-field.
Final note: jamie elliott’s account of the 2024 hanger, set against the prize awarded to Bobby Hill, leaves unanswered questions for the sport’s administrators and for clubs balancing commercial awards with sporting merit.
