AFL club best and fairest awards can sometimes throw up shock results

AFL club best-and-fairest awards can sometimes throw up some surprise results. We look at every club’s top 10 and see what might have raised eyebrows.

Jason Johannisen was second in the Bulldogs’ best and fairest. Picture: Getty Images

BEST and fairest results.

While punters are usually on the money when it comes to who might take home the Brownlow Medal, best and fairest awards can be a very different beast and far harder to predict.

LIVE: BREAKING TRADE NEWS

ON THE TABLE: BOMBERS’ OFFER FOR STRINGER

A close look at club results reveals some interesting insights.

How a player and his role is viewed internally, by his coaches, can be very different to what the punter in the outer might see. Stats don’t always matter.

There’s no disputing that every player who figures prominently in club voting has had a super season. But sometimes they can surprise we footy fans, simply looking at a match or player from the outside.

We’ve taken a look at this year’s best and fairest results and listed the top 10 of every club in one convenient place.

You might find some results surprising ...

Matt Crouch (foreground, blurred) won the Crows’ best and fairest, and Jake Lever couldn’t make the top 10. Picture: AAP

CLUB BY CLUB RESULTS

ADELAIDE — Malcolm Blight Medal

1. Matt Crouch — 315 votes

2. Rory Sloane — 253

3. Rory Laird — 226

4. Sam Jacobs — 224

5. Richard Douglas — 219

6. Taylor Walker — 211

7. Tom Lynch — 203

8. Brad Crouch — 194

9. Brodie Smith — 194

10. Eddie Betts — 187

ANY SURPRISES?

Matt Crouch copped leather poisoning this season as he racked up so much of the footy. Was All-Australian and no surprises he won his first Blighty. Eddie Betts is universally loved, but interestingly the skipper ‘Tex’ Walker was the highest-rated forward of the Crows’ lethal group.

Sam Mayes was a quiet achiever under Chris Fagan. Picture: Adam Head

BRISBANE LIONS — Merrett-Murray Medal

1. Dayne Zorko 277

2. Dayne Beams 224

3. Tom Rockliff 214

4. Stefan Martin 202

5. Sam Mayes 200

6. Daniel Rich 199

7. Lewis Taylor 197

8. Harris Andrews 180

9. Ryan Lester 177

10. Darcy Gardiner 143

10. Eric Hipwood 143

ANY SURPRISES?

The Lions’ best three mids filled the top three slots. That was a given. Stef Martin didn’t get many accolades for another consistent year. Sam Mayes, Ryan Lester and Darcy Gardiner fly under the radar.

Sam Docherty was great for the Blues in 2017. Pic: Michael Klein

CARLTON — John Nicholls Medal

1. Marc Murphy 174

2. Sam Docherty 169

3. Matthew Kreuzer 164

4. Bryce Gibbs 130

5. Kade Simpson 103

6. Matthew Wright 96

7. Lachie Plowman 95

8. Patrick Cripps 92

9. Liam Jones 84

10. Charlie Curnow 81

ANY SURPRISES?

Sam Docherty was All-Australian but still couldn’t pip the skipper, who it must be said was also very consistent. Lachie Plowman might surprise, with his former GWS teammate Caleb Marchbank seemingly winning higher praise throughout the season. No Levi Casboult in the top 10 either.

Collingwood star Steele Sidebottom won the Copeland — and made a ripping speech. Picture: AAP

COLLINGWOOD — Copeland Trophy

1. Steele Sidebottom (140 votes)

2. Taylor Adams (139)

3. Adam Treloar (112)

4. Jeremy Howe (111)

5. Brodie Grundy (92)

7. Scott Pendlebury (91)

7. Jack Crisp (91)

8. Brayden Maynard (79)

9. Jamie Elliott (69)

10. Will Hoskin-Elliott (69)

ANY SURPRISES?

Steele Sidebottom has been a very good player at Collingwood for a long time, but many would have had the two men immediately under him as their Copeland winner. Brayden Maynard and Will Hoskin-Elliott made the top 10 ahead of some higher-profiled teammates.

BUCKENARA: PIES LIST ANALYSIS

Joe Daniher was the only key forward in the AFL to win a best and fairest. Pic: Michael Klein

ESSENDON — Crichton Medal

1. Joe Daniher 451

2. Brendon Goddard 441

3. Dyson Heppell 440

4. Zach Merrett 439

5. David Zaharakis 412

6. Michael Hurley 395

7. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti 386

8. Orazio Fantasia 354

9. Cale Hooker 351

10. James Kelly 344

ANY SURPRISES?

Well, a club recognising a key forward ahead of others is a surprise! Good to see big Joe top the leaderboard. Many would have had Zach Merrett in the top three, and some might also consider All-Australian CHB Michael Hurley stiff not to be higher.

WINDOW OPEN? BUCKENARA ON THE BOMBERS

Brad Hill’s move to Freo paid off. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

FREMANTLE — Doig Medal

1. Bradley Hill — 158

2. Lachie Neale — 135

3. Nat Fyfe — 132

4. David Mundy — 128

5. Michael Walters — 123

6. Joel Hamling — 119

7. Michael Johnson — 110

8. Connor Blakely — 92

9. Stephen Hill — 88

10. Shane Kersten — 63

ANY SURPRISES?

Brad Hill repaid his club’s investment with a best-and-fairest season — comfortably beating major ballwinners Lachie Neale and captain Nat Fyfe to the gong. Some might have thought the bigger names might have gone a bit closer.

Daniel Menzel might be on the move from the Cats. Picture: AAP

GEELONG — Carji Greeves Medal

1. Patrick Dangerfield 240

2. Mitch Duncan 225.5

3. Zach Tuohy 219.5

4. Joel Selwood 213.5

5. Tom Stewart 195

6. Sam Menegola 194

7. Lachie Henderson 190

8. Zac Smith 188

9. Jed Bews 187

10. Harry Taylor 186.5

ANY SURPRISES?

The top two were always going to fight it out. No love for Tom Lonergan who again did his job week in, week out. And Dan Menzel booted 40 goals but couldn’t crack the top 20.

Gary Ablett easily won another club champion award. Picture: Getty Images

GOLD COAST — Club Champion Award

1. Gary Ablett 126 votes

2. David Swallow 106

3. Jack Martin 104

4. Tom Lynch 101

5. Aaron Hall 97

6. Jarryd Lyons 91

7. Jarrod Harbrow 79

8. Touk Miller 70

9. Steven May 66

10. Adam Saad 64

ANY SURPRISES?

Gary Ablett winning was somewhat of a surprise. Gazza winning so easily — after playing just 14 matches — was perhaps the bigger shock. Jack Martin earned a top-three finish ahead of skipper Tom Lynch. But the absence of Jarrod Witts - a favourite of SuperCoaches all year - was also a headscratcher.

The co-captains, Cal Ward and Phil Davis, helped fill the top three. Picture: Getty Images

GWS — Kevin Sheedy Medal

1. Josh Kelly 198 votes

2. Callan Ward 172

3. Phil Davis 153

4. Dylan Shiel 152

5. Tom Scully 137

6. Zac Williams 134

7. Jeremy Cameron 131

8. Toby Greene 130

9. Heath Shaw 114

10. Lachie Whitfield 112

ANY SURPRISES?

The in-demand Kelly didn’t let speculation on his future impact his output. Phil Davis doesn’t win a heap of the footy but he’s hugely valued at GWS, coming in ahead of the likes of stars Dylan Shiel and Toby Greene.

Shaun Burgoyne and Luke Hodge were both up there in the Hawks’ B&F. Picture: Mark Stewart

HAWTHORN — Peter Crimmins Medal Top 10

1. Tom Mitchell 192 votes

2. Ben McEvoy 138 votes

3. Luke Hodge 131 votes

4. Ryan Burton 117 votes

5. Isaac Smith 111 votes

6. Jarryd Roughead 107 votes

7. Jack Gunston 104 votes

7. James Sicily 104 votes

9. Shaun Burgoyne 100 votes

10. Liam Shiels 91 votes

ANY SURPRISES?

Wow, Tom Mitchell streeted the field in the Peter Crimmins. Predictable. Many would have had evergreen Shaun Burgoyne higher. Pleasingly for the Hawks, some fresh faces with no Luke Breust but emerging stars Ryan Burton and James Sicily getting a start.

Michael Hibberd with Jack Watts at the ‘Bluey’ Truscott Trophy. Picture: Getty Images

MELBOURNE — Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Trophy

1. Clayton Oliver 530 votes

2. Jack Viney 346)

4. Nathan Jones 327

4. Jordan Lewis 327

5. Neville Jetta 321

6. Michael Hibberd 318

7. Christian Petracca 302

8. Jeff Garlett 284

9. Tom McDonald 278

10. Dom Tyson 275

ANY SURPRISES?

Michael Hibberd had a superb first season in red and blue, and some might have expected him to poll a little more. Jack Watts was loudly cheered at the Dees’ awards night on Monday, but he only managed 21st in the B&F.

Luke McDonald enjoyed his best season. Pic: Michael Klein

NORTH MELBOURNE — Syd Barker Medal

1. Shaun Higgins 217

2. Ben Cunnington 211

3. Ben Brown 209

4. Robbie Tarrant 204

5. Luke McDonald 192

6. Jack Ziebell 161

7. Sam Gibson 161

8. Taylor Garner 134

9. Scott Thompson 126

10. Shaun Atley 125

ANY SURPRISES?

Ben Brown almost won the Coleman but only managed third. Luke McDonald might have fancied a top-three finish but still finished a creditable fifth. Sam Gibson was seventh but a month later has found himself delisted as the Kangas look to regenerate.

Tom Jonas polled ahead of some big names. Picture: AAP

PORT ADELAIDE — John Cahill Medal

1. Patrick Ryder 241

2. Charlie Dixon 234

3. Tom Jonas 203

4. Robbie Gray 202

5. Brad Ebert 190

6. Ollie Wines 184

7. Sam Gray 171

8. Chad Wingard 166

9. Travis Boak 152

10. Justin Westhoff 145

ANY SURPRISES? Tom Jonas is the name that sticks out — at least when compared to those immediately above and below him. But perhaps it shouldn’t as the defender did make the All-Australian squad. The skipper, Travis Boak, didn’t have his best season but finished in the top 10.

Kane Lambert has gone from the VFL to third in an AFL B&F — in a premiership year. Picture: Getty Images

RICHMOND — Jack Dyer Medal

1. Dustin Martin 89 votes

2. Alex Rance 80 votes

3. Kane Lambert 76 votes

4. Trent Cotchin 73 votes

5. Dylan Grimes 69 votes

6. Shaun Grigg 58 votes

7. Jack Riewoldt 57 votes

9. Bachar Houli 56 votes

9. Dan Butler 56 votes

10. Dion Prestia 52 votes

ANY SURPRISES?

Kane Lambert. He wasn’t picked in the Richmond side for Round 1 but came in and played every game after. Booted 13 goals for the year but his pressure and hardness was obviously hugely valued. No Toby Nankervis in the top 10, who had to shoulder the ruck load all season.

St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt and Leigh Montagna have called time. Picture. Phil Hillyard

ST KILDA — Trevor Barker Award

1. Seb Ross 159 votes

2. Dylan Roberton 124

3. Jarryn Geary 121

4. Jake Carlisle 119

5. Jack Billings 110

6. Jack Steven 108

7. Jimmy Webster 88

8. Jack Newnes 83

9. Jade Gresham 81

10. Nathan Brown 78

ANY SURPRISES?

For the first time in a long time, no Nick Riewoldt or Leigh Montagna. Dylan Roberton and Jarryn Geary’s hardness in defence was rated at Seaford. Great effort from Seb Ross, who managed to take out top prize despite his first name not starting with ‘J’ (look at them all!).

Josh Kennedy led his side to September despite their 0-6 start. Picture. Phil Hillyard

SYDNEY SWANS — The Bob Skilton Medal

1. Luke Parker 696

3. Lance Franklin 650

3. Jake Lloyd 650

4. Josh Kennedy 580

5. George Hewett 571

6. Heath Grundy 569

7. Tom Papley 556

8. Dan Hannebery 546

9. Zak Jones 543

10. Isaac Heeney 518

ANY SURPRISES?

There were some questions about Luke Parker’s form early in the season — along with 21 of his teammates. He lifted, but some would have thought others had superior seasons for the Swans. Buddy and Josh Kennedy might have fancied their chances to take home ‘Bobby’.

Shannon Hurn had his highest B&F finish in five seasons. Picture: Getty Images

WEST COAST — The John Worsfold Medal

1. Elliot Yeo 197

2. Jeremy McGovern 191

3. Luke Shuey 180

4. Shannon Hurn 170

5. Josh Kennedy 166

6. Andrew Gaff 158

7. Jack Darling 140

8. Sam Mitchell 134

9. Matt Priddis 125

10. Brad Sheppard 120

ANY SURPRISES?

It was year of the rebounding defender out west. Luke Shuey was terrific for much of the season but it was hard to ignore Elliott Yeo and his partner in intercept marking, Jeremy McGovern. Captain Shannon Hurn’s durability helped nudge him ahead of star Josh Kennedy and Andrew Gaff (713 disposals for the season).

‘JJ’ offered the Bulldogs plenty in 2017. Picture: Getty Images

WESTERN BULLDOGS — The Charles Sutton Medal

1. Marcus Bontempelli 185 votes

2. Jason Johannisen 184

3. Jack Macrae 155

4. Easton Wood 138

5. Caleb Daniel 134

6. Lachie Hunter 125

7. Matt Suckling 119

8. Zaine Cordy 119

9. Shane Biggs 95

10. Liam Picken 85

ANY SURPRISES?

Remember that month-long focus on Jason Johannisen and his supposed inability to handle a tag off halfback? Well, he might have had a lean spell but he still managed to finish second at Whitten Oval. Many thought Jackson Macrae would fight it out with The Bont. Shane Biggs can frustrate fans but earned a top-10 finish.

Originally published as AFL club best and fairest awards can sometimes throw up shock results