Goal of the Year

The Goal of the Year is generally accepted to have started in 1976, at which time it was a media award. Channel 7 is believed to have been the first to introduce it, followed soon after by the ABC. This meant there could be seasons where two different goals were voted as Mark of the Year, one by each of the two networks.

It became an 'official' AFL award in 2001, with public voting introduced as part of the process in 2006. Any one of the goals of the round throughout the season is able to win the official Goal of the Year. The Goal of the Year award is also known as the Phil Manassa Medal, named after the Magpie's efforts in the 1977 Grand Final Replay where he kicked a famous running goal starting from the half-back flank.