Sport stars battle for top gong
A Brownlow medallist, Formula One's newest star and WA's premier female athlete will headline one of the strongest fields to contend for _The West Australian _-ANZ Sports Star of the Year honour at Monday night's gala dinner.
West Coast warrior Matt Priddis, Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo and Commonwealth Games javelin record holder Kim Mickle all loom as worthy recipients after being named amongst the 12 finalists for this year's prize to be presented at Crown Perth's grand ballroom.
But they will face stiff competition in the form of International Cricketer of the Year Mitchell Johnson and one of Australia's most improved tennis players, Casey Dellacqua.
Previous finalist Shaun Norris - the world's best wheelchair basketballer - is also coming off a stellar year and will again be amongst the contenders for the honour.
Priddis, 29, was one of the year's feelgood stories.
In September, he became West Coast's third Brownlow medallist, behind Chris Judd and Ben Cousins.
The midfielder took his ball-winning ability to new heights in 2014, finishing as the league's highest possession getter for the home-and-away season.
Fellow West Aussies Cousins and Simon Black have previously claimed the title of ANZ Sports Star in the same year as their Brownlow wins. Johnson's transformation from an inconsistent bowler to an Ashes force was no less remarkable than Priddis' award success.
He spearheaded Australia's 5-0 whitewash of England before backing up to rattle South Africa's batsmen in a 2-1 series win on foreign soil. His 59 wickets came at an average of 15.23.
Waiting in the wings is also 25-year-old Ricciardo, who is now being touted as a future world champion after a brilliant year.
Ricciardo won three grand prix races in his first season at Red Bull and finished third in the championship standings.
"It's been pretty much a perfect season, as perfect as it can be without holding a world title, so no real regrets, no complaints," Ricciardo said.
Mickle's outstanding season led to her edging out Olympic gold medallist Sally Pearson to be named Athletics Australia Female Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year.
She won gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and became the national women's javelin record holder with a throw of 66.83m.
Games skeet shooting gold medallist Laura Coles, Games cycling gold medallist Scott Sunderland, Australian netball goal shooter Caitlin Bassett, AFL Players' Association MVP Nat Fyfe, golfing ace Minjee Lee and dual Olympian Fergus Kavanagh join Dellacqua and Norris in the pool of finalists.
Other categories to be awarded on the night include the Channel 7 Perth Team of the Year, Railtrain Junior Sports Star, KPMG Coach of the Year and Slater & Gordon Lawyers Official of the Year. The SRG Sport & Leisure Service to Sport and 882 6PR Special Achievement awards will recognise extraordinary contributions.
"It's been pretty much a perfect season, as perfect as it can be without holding a world title …"" *Daniel Ricciardo *
