AFL features heavily here, with Jason Akermanis still yapping insults at his old club, the Lions, long after arriving at his new home, the Bulldogs. Get over it, Aka. Or Ben Cousins and Michael Gardiner, who both tarnished a Premiership year for West Coast through various off-field, alcohol-related indiscretions. But the award goes to enigmatic batsman Damien Martyn for retirement by email, leaving Andrew Symonds to (inadequately) fill an unexpected hole in the Australian team while Martyn kicked back in Hawaii. Martyn should at least have told captain and best man at his wedding, Ricky Ponting, of his plans.

Honourable mentions: Several readers actually nominated genuinely inspiring clubmen, including Brett Kirk at the Sydney Swans and Brisbane Bronco Shane Webcke.