AFL best and fairests: Every club’s winner, leaderboard from 2023
Jacob Weitering has joined Blues legends including Wayne Johnston, Anthony Koutoufides and Stephen Silvagni as dual winners of Carlton’s top award. See every B&F top 10 here.
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Jacob Weitering’s mid-season form resurgence that helped save Carlton’s capsizing season catapulted him to a second best-and-fairest on Sunday night.
The key defender joined Blues legends including Wayne Johnston, Anthony Koutoufides, Sergio and Stephen Silvagni as dual winners of the John Nicholls Medal following the No.1 draft pick’s first gong in 2020.
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Weitering was the club’s leading vote-getter in four out of five games between rounds 11-16 as the Blues launched a nine-game winning streak that led them into September for the first time in a decade.
Coach Michael Voss credited Weitering’s “remarkable growth” over the past 12 months.
“His strong performances leading our defence did not just come in the back half of the year, but when we needed them most during that challenging period,” Voss said.
“Jacob’s win tonight is as much for the work he put in off the field with not only himself but as a leader for the entire football club,” Voss said.
“Jacob was pivotal in making resilience a badge of honour for our club.”
Utility Nic Newman polled in 23 out of 24 games to finish runner-up after a remarkably consistent season.
The former Sydney player was named best clubman for the third time in four seasons, an award which was voted on by the entire football department.
Dual Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow won the Players’ Award while Sam Walsh was named the club’s best finals player after taking out the Gary Ayres Medal as the league’s September star as voted on by the coaches.
Walsh drove the Blues to the preliminary final with best-on-field performances in finals wins against Sydney and Melbourne at the MCG.
Recruit Blake Acres won the Coaches’ Award while young gun Ollie Hollands was named Best Young Player.
President Luke Sayers, who has 12 months left on the board under Carlton’s constitution, said the club’s stability would provide a “great launching pad” for 2024.
Former whipping boy Mitch McGovern’s resurgence was recognised with his first top-10 finish in the medal.
But Harry McKay’s struggles saw him slip out of the top 10 for the first time since 2020. McKay placed third in 2021 and seventh last year although he did miss six games through injury this season.
Young gun reigns as poster boy for Hawks’ rebuild
It is now official – Will Day is Hawthorn’s best player, and Sam Mitchell’s fast-tracked rebuild has received a final tick of approval with the club’s next generation dominating the Peter Crimmins Medal.
Twelve months on from the departures of newly-minted premiership player Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara it was Day, Conor Nash, Jai Newcombe and James Worpel who cashed in to fill the top four places when the votes were revealed at Crown Palladium on Saturday night.
Five of the top six vote-getters were aged between 22 and 25 with Worpel was the only member of that five who has reached 100 games.
Vice-captain Dylan Moore came sixth, with captain James Sicily the sole veteran near the top of the field.
Suspensions thwarted what would’ve been a likely runaway quinella between Day and Sicily.
Day missed two matches for a dangerous tackle while Sicily was suspended for four games, three of those controversially owing to a tackle that was deemed a holding the ball free to Sicily kick by the umpire.
Newcombe became the bridesmaid for the second consecutive season while in 2019 Worpel became the youngest winner since Leigh Matthews in 1971.
But Day’s victory cemented his status as the posterboy for the rebuild. The South Australian, who re-signed until 2027 this season, polled votes in 20 out of his 21 matches.
Day had been deployed at halfback before breaking into the midfield this year. The courageous onballer who models his game on Marcus Bontempelli averaged 26 disposals and four clearances.
Day also took home the Lethal Award — one of the most highly-regarded accolades within the four walls at Waverley because it is player-voted.
Nash’s elevation on to the podium also helped earn him the Most Improved award. Utility Josh Weddle received the Most Promising gong in another tick to last year’s trade period.
The Hawks gave up pick 27 in last year’s draft as well as 2023 second and third-round selections to secure Weddle at No.18 on draft night last year.
It was a high price but they were desperate to get their hands on the running machine live at the draft.
Mitch Lewis slipped out of the top 10 after missing eight games through injury. But Lewis, 24, remains a critical part of the rebuild and is set to be co-piloted by Mabior Chol (Gold Coast) in 2024.
The Hawks are also eyeing the No.1 pick – and access to Harley Reid – and will also draft key defender Will McCabe (father-son) next month.
Vice-captain Luke Breust rounded out the top 10 and was also named best clubman in a testament to the three-time premiership forward’s leadership.
Moore was judged the club’s Most Courageous player. Day’s best finish in the Peter Crimmins Medal was previously 10th in his debut season of 2020.
Day, the grandson of Hawks 1971 premiership player Robert Day, credited Hawthorn’s bold list rejuvenation last year to his permanent move to the midfield.
“If we still had the list we did last year I probably wouldn’t be in the middle as much, so it’s been a great opportunity for me,” Day said earlier this year.
“It means players like myself have to step up now, which is a bit of a responsibility, and we’re trying to fast-track that as much as we can.
“I’ve loved it. I finally had a full pre-season as well and to do that in the midfield I feel like a bit of a new player. I want to be an elite midfielder so clearances, contested possessions are two I want to keep improving.
“Growing up being a lighter frame all the way through it's been something that I’ve had to go to the nth degree to do to still have an impact on games physically.
“Now that I’m starting to put on a bit more size it’s coming together a bit more. But I’ve always tried to pride myself on really putting my body on the line.”
Growing up Day’s grandfather, who was a centreman, always made Day kick on his left foot.
Sibling surprise as Daicos clinches Copeland
- Ed Bourke
Josh Daicos has claimed bragging rights over his brother after closing out a glittering 2023 campaign with a maiden Copeland Trophy win on Friday night.
The All-Australian pair was neck-and-neck for most of the best-and-fairest count at Crown before the elder Daicos streaked ahead of Nick following his knee fracture in round 21.
It earned Josh Daicos the coveted honour of best and fairest in a premiership season.
The wingman played all 27 games and booted 16 goals with an average of 25 disposals per game.
Daicos, 24, was the Magpies’ youngest best-and-fairest winner since Brodie Grundy in 2018.
Brayden Maynard tied with Nick Daicos for second, only four votes in front of first-year Magpie Tom Mitchell, who polled strongly despite a form slump in July that led to him twice being picked as the sub.
A humble Daicos said he had “loved being part of this club since day one”, and saved a special mention for his mother, Colleen, who is often in the shadow of his father, club legend Peter.
“To my parents... thank you for all your work over the years,” he said. “Mum, you definitely don’t get the credit you deserve. You were definitely the hardest on Nick and I growing up, so we credit a lot of our success to you.”
Daicos paid credit to coach Craig McRae, saying his impact on the team had been “amazing”.
“To all my teammates, I love playing football with you guys – it’s definitely the highlight of my week,” he said.
Collingwood on Friday night informed Trey Ruscoe, Trent Bianco, Tom Wilson, Arlo Draper and Cooper Murley that they would not be offered contracts with the club for 2024.
“Decision-making at this time of the year is always tough and we thank each of the players for their contribution to Collingwood,” football boss Graham Wright said.
TRAC REIGNS SUPREME
- Sam Landsberger
Christian Petracca joined a list that includes some of Melbourne’s immortals on Friday night as the explosive ball winner claimed a second Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott trophy.
Petracca, 27, was a runaway winner as he joined the likes of the late Ron Barassi (1961, 1964), Norm Smith (1938, 1944) and Garry Lyon (1990, 1994) as a two-time club champion.
Petracca won his first gong in 2020 and finished runner-up to Clayton Oliver in the past two seasons.
On a night where the Demons inducted 12 life members, including retiring 2021 premiership defender Michael Hibberd, it was a night to saviour for Petracca.
“For Christian to be awarded his second club best-and-fairest is fantastic reward for another consistent season,” premiership coach Simon Goodwin said.
“This season saw Christian take on a different role, which he performed at an exceptional level, and this award is fitting recognition for an outstanding year.”
Petracca polled 26 Brownlow Medal votes this year to lead Melbourne’s count ahead of Jack Viney (24 Brownlow votes).
It was also a Petracca-Viney quinella in the best-and-fairest, with Jake Lever rounding out the top three.
Petracca also earned a fourth All-Australian blazer in 2023. The matchwinner embraced a new split between the midfield and forward lines as averaged 27.8 disposals and booted 28.34.
That tally was one shy of the career-best 29 goals he kicked in 2021. Only seven players have now won more best-and-fairests than Petracca.
They are Allan La Fontaine, Jim Stynes and Clayton Oliver (all four-time winners) as well as Laurie Fowler, Nathan Jones, Hassa Mann and Jack Mueller (all three-time winners).
Angus Brayshaw, who placed fifth overall, received the Ron Barassi Jnr Memorial Trophy for his leadership.
Emerging stars Judd McVee and Jacob van Rooyen shared the best young player award. Defender Trent Rivers was awarded the Norm Smith Memorial Trophy from the coaches.
MERRETT IN RARE AIR AS COUNT SHOWS DONS’ GROWTH
Zach Merrett has capped off his first year as Essendon captain with a victory in the club’s best-and-fairest award on Thursday night and joined some the club’s greatest names in rare air.
The 28-year-old was presented with his fourth Crichton Medal in a ceremony at Melbourne Park, joining club greats Tim Watson and Simon Madden and moving closer to James Hird (five wins) and Dick Reynolds and Bill Hutchison (seven).
Merrett finished 20 votes clear of Kyle Langford, with the utility’s second place his highest in nine seasons after a breakout campaign as a forward.
Langford booted 51 goals to make the All-Australian squad, where he was joined by teammate Mason Redman, who placed third.
The Bombers’ reduced reliance on Darcy Parish at stoppages was on show as the recently recontracted ballwinner slid to eighth place, but he missed five games in the middle of the season due to a calf injury.
Vice-captain Andrew McGrath won the best clubman award and the John Kilby award from the Bombers’ staff and trainers, while Redman was named most courageous.
Alwyn Davey Jr was recognised with the Lindsay Griffiths Rising Star award after he played 10 games in his first season and kicked four goals.
EVERY CLUB’S BEST AND FAIREST LEADERBOARD
Originally published as AFL best and fairests: Every club’s winner, leaderboard from 2023
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