Dally M Medal in Australia. The award was originally established in 1979 by "The Daily Mirror" newspaper in 1979. For many years, it was the second major individual award in the New South Wales Rugby League behind the Rothmans Medal. It was awarded each year between 1979 and 1996. With the Super League schism in 1997, the medal was not awarded. Since the National Rugby League (NRL) was formed from the merger of the Australian Rugby League and the Australian Super League in 1998, the Dally M Medal has been the single official player-of-the-year award for that league, and the highest individual honour
AFL Players Association awards players. The "Herald Sun"s Mark Robinson (2000, 2002) and "The Age"s Emma Quayle (2009, 2012) are only journalists to have won the award twice. "Herald Sun" chief football writer Mike Sheahan won the award in 2008 for his article on Simon Goodwin and his gambling addiction. The Trophy was created in honour and memory of the late Grant Hattam who was a leading sports and media lawyer (with Corrs Chambers Westgarth). Given annually since 2001 to the player who displays the best all-round performance in balancing football with external education and training. Awarded annually to young aspiring non-AFL players, attempting