Gold Coast ruckman Tom Nicholls’ dominant NEAFL form has been rewarded with selection in the NEAFL Team of the Year at the competition’s awards night on Sunday evening.
Nicholls was a huge asset to the SUNS’ NEAFL side in 2019, playing all but one game and shouldering the main ruck responsibilities through the year.
The 27-year-old finished the season ranked No.1 in the league for hard ball gets and was the only key position player in the top 10 for contested possessions, an outstanding result for a ruckman.
Nicholls was ranked fifth in the competition for total Champion Data ranking points, also making him the highest-ranked key position player.
He finished the year with 701 hit outs at an average of 41 per game and 265 disposals (average of 15.5).
Nicholls also registered over two marks and four tackles per game while finishing the year with eight goals.
2019 NEAFL Team of the Year:
FB | B. Murdoch (Southport) | M. Eagles (Brisbane) | T. Highmore (Canberra) |
HB | A. Baker (Canberra) | G. Grose (Aspley) | R. Stoddart (Sydney) |
C | N. Shipley (GWS) | M. Payne (Aspley) | A. Smout (Canberra) |
HF | J. Rose (Sydney) | C. Cameron (Redland) | R. Bastinac (Brisbane) |
F | B. Keays (Brisbane) | M. Hammelmann (Redland) | M. Hardie (Canberra) |
FOLL | T. Nicholls (Gold Coast) | A. Ankers (NT Thunder) | A. Boston (Southport) |
INT | J. Bartholomaeus (Sydney Uni) | A. Gulden (Sydney Uni) | C. Lyons (Brisbane) |
K. Coleman (Brisbane) | C. Malone (Redland) |
