Footy Flashbacks: We list every Grogan Medal winner here – and interview one of the best

We list every Grogan Medal winner since 1947 and interview one of the best to ever win the prestigious footy award.

Australian football’s Grogan Medal remains one of Queensland sports most prestigious awards.

The cherished award is named after JA Grogan, a long serving administrator from the 1920s era, and has been awarded every year since 1947 to the best and fairest QAFL player in the senior men’s competition.

Here we recall the names of every winner of the award, and feature one of the best ever recipients, Southport champion ruck rover Jason Cotter who won the Grogan Medal twice.

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QAFL’S BEST PLAYERS OF THE 1980s

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Remarkably their have been three three-way ties on Grogan Medal night:

+ in 1969 when Terry Johnson (Morningside), Ken Garcia (W/Grange) and Terry Weller (W/Zillmere) shared the spoils

+ in 1993 when Cotter shared the presentation stage with champion Morningside centreman Darryl Bourke, and a young Wilston-Grange livewire rover called Dean Warren.

+ in 2012 with Ryan Davey (Labrador), Fraser Pope (Southport) and Tom Salter (Redland)

Morningside QAFL player Matthew Payne. Picture credit: Highflyer Images.

Cotter described Bourke and Warren, whom he shared the medal with, as “two fantastic players’’.

“They played the game super competitive and you would always prepare extra for them because you knew it would be game on,’’ Cotter recalled. “I have a great photo of us three on the night.’’

Cotter was one of the finest players – in any position – of his era.

Dean Warren won a Grogan Medal. Pic Peter Wallis

He played 12 games for Queensland from 1986-93, and won an extraordinary six premierships as a player in 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990 and 1992. He also played in four losing grand finals - all for the Sharks.

Then as a coach he claimed QAFL premierships coaching Southport in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

“So where does winning the Grogan Medal sit in terms of his career highlights?

“Premierships is the ultimate and I have been super fortunate in this department,’’ Cotter said.

“Winning the medals is due recognition to the club and the team for providing such a great platform to allow this to happen. I was involved in a great club which allowed me to play in great teams.

Southport Sharks Danny Wise was a medal winner.

“If one of your team members is winning the league medal then fair chance you are playing finals as a team, if not grand finals, so I rate the Grogan Medal as a good performance indicator.

“I always thought heading into grand finals if one of the team could win the league medal, that it gave everyone a tremendous positive lift heading into the GF.’’

Southport captain Zane Taylor (L) and bloodied Gary Dempsey.

Cotter won his first of two Grogan Medals in 1990 – the year Southport won the premiership undefeated, that Cotter won the club best and fairest, and also the year his son Ryan was born.

“It’s a fond memory (winning the Grogan) and it’s a proud memory and some wonderful players have won the medal.

“I reflect when I see other players win the medal. It makes me smile.’’

Jordan Moncrieff of Broadbeach Cats is a full forward superstar who won a Grogan Medal. (Photo by Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Full list of J. A Grogan Medallists

1946: Doug Pittard (West Dist)

1947: Doug Pittard (West Dist) and Fred Willets (Yeronga)

1948: Tom Calder (Coorparoo)

1949: Dick Parton (Windsor)

1950: Tom Calder (Coorparoo) and Edgar Stevens (Sandgate)

1951: Bill Shorten (Yeronga)

1952: Bevis Howell (Coorparoo)

1953: Noel McGuinness (Morningside)

1954: Noel McGuinness (Morningside)

1955: Henry Maguire (Morningside)

1956: Tom Pelly (West Dist)

1957: Keith Farnsworth (Morningside)

1958: Andy Stewart (West Dist)

1959: John Golding (Coorparoo)

1960: Merv Dihm (Kedron) and Jim Conlon (W/Grange)

David Lillico, Morningside coach John Blair and Paul Wessling. Blair was a Grogan Medal great.

1961: Keith Leach (W/Grange)

1962: Keith Leach (W/Grange)

1963: Tom Gould (Kedron)

1964: Ken Grimely (Coorparoo)

1965: Tom Guold (Kedron)

1966: Gary Wah Hing (Kedron)

1967: Robin Hull (W/Zillmere)

1968: Merv Appleyard (W/Grange)

1969: Terry Johnson (Morningside), Ken Garcia (W/Grange) and Terry Weller (W/Zillmere)

1970: Kelvin Mills (Kedron)

1971: Owen Blackwell (West Dist)

1972: Barry Clarke (W/Grange)

1973: Don Smith (Sandgate)

1974: Jeff Ebert (Morningside)

1975: Owen Blackwell (West Dist)

1976: Barry Clarke (W/Grange)

1977: Peter Taylor (West Dist)

1978: Peter Ives (Mayne)

1979: Don Smith (Sandgate)

1980: Barry Karklis (W/Zillmere)

1981: Greg Hollick (Mayne)

1982: John Blair (Morningside)

1983: Peter Guy (Southport), Bill Peirce (Sherwood)

1984: Brendan McMullen (Coorparoo)

1985: Zane Taylor (Southport)

Southport Sharks and Danny Wise.

1986: Brendan McMullen (Coorparoo), Greg Packham (Kedron)

1987: Terry Simmonds (Mayne)

1988: Craig Brittain (W/Zillmere)

1989: Daryl Bourke (Morningside)

1990: Jason Cotter (Southport)

1991: Cameron Buchanan (Nth Bris)

1992: Rick Chapman (Morningside), David Crutchfield (Southport),

Chris O’Sullivan (Southport)

1993: Daryl Bourke (Morningside), Jason Cotter (Southport) and Dean Warren (W/Grange)

1994: Mitchell Howe (Morningside)

1995: David Bain (Southport)

1996: Corey Lambert (West Bris)

1997: Jeff Brennan (Sandgate)

Broadbeach Cats Blake Erickson. Picture Glenn Hampson

1998: Dean Edwards (Morningside)

1999: Brad Jones (Mt. Gravatt), David Bain Southport

2000: Dan Dickfos (N/Eagles)

2001: Paul O’Brien (Redland)

2002: David Round (Southport)

2003: Jacob Gough (Morningside)

2004: Mick Stinear (Mt. Gravatt)

2005: David Round (Broadbeach)

2006: Matthew Payne (Zillmere)

2007: Todd Featherstone (Labrador)

2008: Nathan Kinch (Morningside)

2009: Nathan Gilliland (Mt. Gravatt)

2010: Danny Wise (Southport)

Mt Gravatt player Frazer Neate won a Grogan Medal.. Picture, John Gass

2011: Matthew Payne (Southport) & Cameron Ilett (NT Thunder)

2012: Ryan Davey (Labrador), Fraser Pope (Southport) and Tom Salter (Redland)

2013: Haydn Kiel (Southport)

2014: Ryan Davey (Labrador)

2015: Callum Carseldine (Western Magpies)

2016: Jesse Derrick (Palm Beach Currumbin)

2017: Jason Burge (Palm Beach Currumbin) & Wayde Mills (Labrador)

2018: Blake Erickson (Broadbeach)

2019: Frazer Neate (Mt Gravatt)

2020: Matthew Payne (Morningside)

2021: Jordan Moncrieff (Broadbeach)