Every AFL club best-and-fairest result for the 2018 season
IT was no surprise to see superstar midfielder Tom Mitchell take out Hawthorn’s best and fairest on Saturday night. However, not many fans saw a second-place finish for Blake Hardwick coming. SEE THE TOP 10 HERE
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HAWTHORN’S decision to hand Luke Hodge’s famous No.15 jumper to Blake Hardwick this year has been justified after the 21-year-old capped a breakout season with a second-place finish in the club’s best-and-fairest count last night.
Midfielder Tom Mitchell won the award for a second year running since joining the Hawks from Sydney, that coming as no surprise after his Brownlow Medal win last month.
Fellow All-Australian’s Luke Breust and Jack Gunston also featured in the top-six.
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However, Hardwick’s result turned heads with the hard-nosed defender having never having polled a Brownlow Medal vote in 44 career games and not having placed inside the top-10 in last year’s best-and-fairest count.
Known for his flowing mullet, Hardwick also collected the club’s most promising player award after playing every game this year and averaging 16.4 disposals and 4.5 marks.
Midfielder Jaeger O’Meara finished fifth in his second season at the club, having played 21 games after managing just six in 2017 due to injury.
Defender Ben Stratton, who was considered unlucky to miss the All-Australian squad of 40, placed seventh.
Captain Jarryd Roughead and fellow veteran Shaun Burgoyne – who both have contracts for next year – did not feature among the top-10 after finishing sixth and ninth respectively in 2017.
TOP 10
1. Tom Mitchell 163 votes
2. Blake Hardwick 127
3. Isaac Smith 125
4. Jack Gunston 121
5. Jaeger O’Meara 120
6. Luke Breust 119
7. Ben Stratton 112
8. Ben McEvoy 99
9. Liam Shiels 99
10. James Sicily 87
COLLINGWOOD’S top players for 2018 couldn’t be split with Steele Sidebottom and Brodie Grundy sharing Copeland Trophy honours.
For the first time since 1994, the Magpies best-and-fairest award was shared after star ruck Grundy polled a single vote in the Grand Final loss to West Coast to draw equal with his teammate.
They could not be separated on a countback, with Sidebottom and Grundy playing the same number of games and polling the same number of high-value vote games.
The award marked Sidebottom’s second Copeland Trophy victory, having claimed last year’s award, with Grundy claiming maiden honours.
Grundy, 24, dedicated his award to housemate Tim Broomhead, who broke his leg against GWS in Round 2.
“Special mention to Tim Broomhead, this year’s been extremely tough for you. but you haven’t brought any of those feelings home.
“You’ve been extremely selfless every week regardless of your situation ... I can’t thank you enough.”
Grundy also shared his “bromance” with coach Nathan Buckley.
“I love talking life and footy with you, mate. I think we’ve learnt a lot from each other this year and over the journey. I love playing for you and look forward to bringing success to this great organisation in the years to come.”
He saved his last word for Collingwood fans.
“To the Magpie army, we definitely hear you, we just need you to keep believing.”
Sidebottom also thanked the fans and took a dig at Richmond’s 100,000 members: “I don’t know where I heard it, maybe Eddie spoke about the Tigers calling themelves an army, but I think we’re the only army out there.”
Buckley shared the 1994 award with Gavin Brown, father of current Magpie Callum Brown.
Skipper Scott Pendlebury finished third, ahead of Jack Crisp and Taylor Adams, who was recognised with the Bob Rose Award as the best player of the finals.
- Lauren Wood
TOP 10
Steele Sidebottom - 203 votes (E.W. Copeland trophy)
Brodie Grundy - 203 (E.W. Copeland Trophy)
Scott Pendlebury - 178 (J.J. Joyce Trophy)
Jack Crisp - 160 (J.F. McHale Trophy)
Taylor Adams - 159 (Jack Regan Trophy)
Tom Phillips - 134
Jeremy Howe - 132
Jordan De Goey - 127
Josh Thomas - 122
Brayden Maynard - 107
CARLTON
MIDFIELD bull Patrick Cripps claimed his second John Nicholls Medal and was named co-captain for 2019 in a big night at Carlton.
Cripps will lead the Blues into a new era with Sam Docherty after Marc Murphy stepped down.
Cripps, 23, was a runaway victor of Carlton’s best-and-fairest award, capping an All-Australian season that also included finishing equal-fourth in the Brownlow Medal.
He claimed 166 votes, ahead of Kade Simpson (108) and brothers Ed and Charlie Curnow (98 votes).
TOP 10
Patrick Cripps - 166
Kade Simpson - 108
Ed Curnow - 98
Charlie Curnow - 98
Dale Thomas - 71
Liam Jones - 48
Zac Fisher - 47
Sam Rowe - 43
Matthew Wright - 39
Marc Murphy - 39
NORTH MELBOURNE
STAR Roo Shaun Higgins’ stellar season has been rewarded with a second consecutive Syd Barker Medal as North Melbourne’s best-and-fairest player.
Higgins, 30, earned All-Australian selection this year after averaging more than 27 disposals in his 20 games this season and last night claimed his club’s award ahead of fellow midfielder Ben Cunnington.
Defender Robbie Tarrant, key forward Ben Brown and skipper Jack Ziebell rounded out the top five.
Kangaroos chief executive Carl Dilena said last month that he believed Higgins had taken his game to a new level this season.
“You can’t underestimate the influence that having your leaders fit can bring,” Dilena told the In Review podcast in September.
“You look at Shaun Higgins this year, he really took it up another notch and was brilliant this year.
“You’ve got guys like Ben Cunnington who is one of the most underrated players in the competition, but he is happy to stay out of the limelight.
“Jack Ziebell going down forward this year was great. He leads from the front and really sets the tone for the team with his tackling and attack on the footy.”
Higgins and Cunnington were also recognised with the Mazda Excellence Award while small forward Kayne Turner was named Shinboner of the Year.
- Lauren Wood
TOP 10
Shaun Higgins - 240
Ben Cunnington - 237
Robbie Tarrant - 218
Ben Brown - 216
Jack Ziebell - 215
Trent Dumont - 215
Todd Goldstein - 206
Jed Anderson - 198
Scott Thompson - 196
Jamie Macmillan - 195
GWS GIANTS
LACHIE Whitfield has capped a stellar season taking out his first Kevin Sheedy Medal as the GWS Giants club champion.
Sheedy was on hand to make the presentation to the 24-year-old, who claimed the honour with 175 votes, nine ahead of co-captains Callan Ward (164) and Phil Davis (156) with vice-captain Stephen Coniglio (154) and defender Nick Haynes (151) rounding out the top five.
“Lachie’s had a simply outstanding season,” Giants coach Leon Cameron
said.
“We challenged him this season, almost out of necessity, with his determination and professionalism shining through as he attacked his move to halfback with enthusiasm. We’ve always known he’s an incredibly hardworking and skilful player but what he’s been able to achieve this season is nothing short of remarkable.”
The No.1 draft pick (2012) made a seamless transition to from the wing to defence at the start of the season and picked up his first All-Australian selection last month. Despite never having played in the backline Whitfield excelled averaging 26.8 disposals, 6.7 marks, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 tackles per game.
- Neil Cordy
TOP 10
Lachie Whitfield - 175
Callan Ward - 164
Phil Davis - 156
Stephen Coniglio - 154
Nick Haynes - 151
Dylan Shiel - 130
Adam Tomlinson - 117
Tim Taranto - 114
Josh Kelly - 111
Jacob Hopper, Jeremy Cameron, Heath Shaw - 107
SYDNEY
JAKE Lloyd has continued his rise to the elite ranks of the AFL, taking out the Bob Skilton Medal two weeks after putting pen to paper on a new contract.
The Swans will be happy he’s wrapped up for another four years after he won comfortably by 23 votes (540) ahead of last year’s leading vote-getter Luke Parker (517) and Lance Franklin, who finished third (510).
The 25-year-old came to the Swans via the 2013 rookie draft and has slotted in perfectly, playing 115 games mostly in defence, missing just three matches in his five years at the SCG.
Lloyd played his 100th senior game in Sydney’s Round 8 win over Hawthorn at the MCG.
“From the moment Jake arrived at the club he instantly impressed all of us with his work ethic and his eagerness to learn and make the most of his opportunity,” Swans coach John Longmire said.
“He’s become an integral part of our team and an emerging leader of our back six. It’s a terrific achievement to be crowned club champion and a great reward for the commitment and work he’s put in.”
TOP 10
Jake Lloyd — 540 votes
Luke Parker — 517 votes
Lance Franklin — 510 votes
Isaac Heeney — 463 votes
Josh Kennedy — 435 votes
Dane Rampe — 433 votes
George Hewett — 430 votes
Jarrad McVeigh — 353 votes
Callum Sinclair — 351 votes
Harry Cunningham — 331 votes
PORT ADELAIDE
PORT Adelaide’s oldest player — and least vocal — Justin Westhoff has completed a momentous week and marvellous AFL season as the Power’s club champion.
Westhoff started the week celebrating his 32nd birthday, then signed a one-year contract extension for his 13th season at Alberton and on Friday night claimed his first John Cahill Medal.
Westhoff polled 179 votes from a full count of 22 home-and-away games — 17 more than defender Tom Jonas, who was limited to 18 matches with hamstring and knee injuries.
Vice-captain Ollie Wines joined Jonas as the runner-up with 162 votes.
All-Australian Robbie Gray, who was favoured to win his fourth John Cahill Medal, was fourth with 152 votes.
“I’ve been in football a long time, and I’ve never seen a more worthy winner,” Hinkley said.
“I talk to our players all the time about this bloke and he gets sick of it.
“He’s our oldest player, he’s our greatest team player, he’ll achieve greatness because he’ll work hard and has courage to overcome obstacles.”
TOP 10
1. Justin Westhoff 179 votes
2. Tom Jonas and Ollie Wines 162
4. Robbie Gray 152
5. Jared Polec 151
6. Chad Wingard 143
7. Darcy Byrne-Jones 139
8. Dan Houston 131
9. Travis Boak 126
10. Tom Clurey 110
WEST COAST
West Coast midfielder Elliot Yeo has capped off an outstanding AFL season by taking out the club’s best and fairest award.
Yeo polled 273 votes across his 25 games to beat Jack Redden (231) and Shannon Hurn (222) for the John Worsfold medal on Friday night.
Jamie Cripps finished fourth after producing a career-best season, while Andrew Gaff rounded out the top five despite missing the last six games of the season through suspension.
Yeo averaged a career-best 24.6 disposals and 4.3 clearances this season after being moved into the midfield to help fill the void left by Sam Mitchell and Matt Priddis.
West Coast beat Collingwood by five points in a thrilling grand final, and Eagles coach Adam Simpson was proud of the way his team dealt with adversity this year.
Nic Naitanui (knee), Brad Sheppard (hamstring), Eric Mackenzie (toe), and Gaff (suspension) all missed out on the premiership.
Off the field, West Coast had to deal with incidents involving goalsneak Liam Ryan and Eagles integrity officer Peter Staples.
The player group remained united through it all, and Simpson sung their praises during his speech to the crowd on Friday night.
“I was talking to some of our coaches the other day about what you need to do to win a premiership,” Simpson said.
“Someone told me that you’ve got to get everything right on and off the field. And it’s fair to say not much went right for us on and off the field this year. “It started with that JLT 2 game (against Fremantle) where I think only three players turned up for that one. We lost by 10 goals.
“Stapes (Peter Staples) beat up a cameraman during the year. Thanks for that - I really appreciated that on the Monday.
“And then losing Gaff, Shep, Nic, and Eric Mackenzie ... so I’m looking back on all those things that went wrong.
“What I realised by the end of it all is it’s not about getting everything right on and off the field. It’s about people, and we’ve got bloody good people at this football club.”
TOP 10
Elliot Yeo
Jack Redden
Shannon Hurn
Jamie Cripps
Andrew Gaff
Jeremy McGovern
Mark Hutchings
Brad Sheppard
Jack Darling
Willie Rioli
ESSENDON
ESSENDON’S recruiting raid received another tick with Devon Smith crowned the club’s best-and-fairest winner and Adam Saad placing fourth.
Bombers list manager Adrian Dodoro struck deals to secure Smith (GWS) Saad (Gold Coast) and Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs) last October with the trio enjoying promising seasons.
Stringer did not finish in the top 10 although did take home the club’s goalkicking award with 30 majors. Stringer, 24, also led the Dogs’ goalkicking from 2015-17.
Smith – the AFL’s No.1 pressure player and tackler – edged captain Dyson Heppell and vice-captain Zach Merrett to cap a brilliant debut season at Tullamarine with his first Crichton Medal.
Departing champion Brendon Goddard rounded out the top 10, ensuring the former St Kilda superstar featured in the top 10 of Essendon’s best-and-fairest in all six of his seasons at the club.
“(For Smith) to win the Crichton Medal in his first year at the club is an enormous achievement and we are extremely proud of what Devon has accomplished this season,” coach John Worsfold said.
- Sam Landsberger
TOP 10
Devon Smith - 370
Dyson Heppell - 360
Zach Merrett - 335
Adam Saad - 315
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti - 295
Tom Bellchambers - 281
Michael Hurley - 280
Cale Hooker - 276
Conor McKenna - 268
Brendon Goddard - 267
GEELONG
GEELONG backman Mark Blicavs has capped a stunning season by claiming the 2018 Carji Greeves Medal.
The 27-year-old held out midfield dynamos Patrick Dangerfield and Tim Kelly by just half a vote to win in one of the tightest counts in recent memory.
But perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was Gary Ablett’s absence from the top 10.
The Cats champ, a two-time best and fairest winner at the Cats and four-time winner with Gold Coast, came under scrutiny for his form at times in 2018 but coach Chris Scott defended his star.
He played 19 matches for the year and polled 14 Brownlow votes.
Blicavs praised assistant coach Matthew Scarlett for helping him transition into the Geelong defence and said he had made learning the craft an enjoyable experience.
“I think I have had a consistent year and I really enjoyed my football like I did in 2015,” Blicavs said.
“I was pretty injury-free this year and I loved being back in defence. They are a great bunch of guys and learning off Scarlo was great, too, and that enjoyment came through in my footy.
“If I didn’t get back I would have had plenty to offer in the midfield or the ruck but it was a new challenge and it simplified the game for me, which helped, so I classify myself as a defender now.
“Scarlo was huge and he expects the world of you and wants you to perform and do the team thing but the way he goes about it, he fills young players with confidence. We saw Jack Henry come in and the confidence that he got playing back and the impact he had going forward was a lot to do with Scarlo and the way that he coaches.”
- Lachie Young
TOP 10
Mark Blicavs — 234 votes
Patrick Dangerfield — 233.5
Tim Kelly — 233.5
Tom Hawkins — 229
Joel Selwood — 220.5
Mitch Duncan — 216
Tom Stewart — 216
Jake Kolodjashnij — 203
Sam Menegola — 200
Zach Tuohy — 194.5
RICHMOND
JACK Riewoldt’s stellar season has been rewarded yet again, with the champion forward claiming his second Jack Dyer Medal.
The Richmond vice-captain’s best-and-fairest trophy comes after an All-Australian season where he was also awarded the Coleman Medal as the league’s leading goalkicker.
Creative forward Kane Lambert’s star continues to rise, finishing second with Dustin Martin third.
Riewoldt polled 81 votes, 13 ahead of runner-up Lambert on 68 votes. Lambert placed third last season. Martin, last year’s Jack Dyer medallist, polled 66 votes.
- Eliza Sewell
TOP 10
Jack Riewoldt - 81
Kane Lambert - 68
Dustin Martin - 66
Shane Edwards - 65
Dylan Grimes - 64
Alex Rance - 63
Trent Cotchin - 58
Nick Vlastuin - 51
Jayden Short - 47
Josh Caddy - 45
MELBOURNE
MELBOURNE ruckman Max Gawn has capped-off a sensational season winning the Demons’ best-and-fairest ahead of Clayton Oliver.
The game’s most dominant big man played every game this year and polled 657 votes to win by 62 ahead of last year’s winner, Oliver.
Midfield hard-nut Angus Brayshaw, who was a shock third in the Brownlow Medal last week, finished sixth on 429.
Tagger James Harmes was recognised for his breakout season helping lock down on some of the competition’s best ball-winners, finishing third on 498 votes ahead of co-captain Nathan Jones (449).
Gawn also took out this year’s AFL Coaches Association player of the year and finished equal fourth in the Brownlow Medal on 20 votes, eight behind winner Tom Mitchell.
- Jay Clark
TOP 10
Max Gawn - 657 votes
Clayton Oliver - 595
James Harmes - 468
Nathan Jones - 449
Tom McDonald - 433
Angus Brayshaw -429
Jake Melksham - 428
Christian Salem - 403
Neville Jetta - 383
Jordan Lews - 366
ADELAIDE
ADELAIDE club champion Rory Laird is confident the annus horribilis of 2018 will make the Crows stronger and better as they seek to return for a tilt at next year’s AFL finals.
The club has commissioned an external review of what went wrong at West Lakes this season, beginning with the 2017 Grand Final loss, continuing with the contentious pre-season camp and a spate of hamstring injuries.
But Laird said the players had now put the year behind them, having completed their exit interviews and taking off on holidays.
And he said as difficult as the season had been, it would serve as a platform for improvement next season.
“We’ve blooded a few young fellas who have come in and played some crucial roles for us,” Laird said. “We weren’t too far of a few really good teams and we beat Richmond earlier in the year, Sydney in Sydney.
“It was a year of ‘almosts’ and in the end we fell just short.”
Laird pulled on the gold jacket for the first time after polling in all of his 20 games. He led from start to finish, surviving a late charge from last year’s winner Matt Crouch.
- Jesper Fjeldstad
TOP 10
Rory Laird – 222
Matt Crouch – 166
Josh Jenkins – 162
Bryce Gibbs – 149
Hugh Greenwood - 140
Tom Doedee – 139
Luke Brown – 134
Wayne Milera Junior – 134
Rory Atkins – 128
Paul Seedsman - 128
ST KILDA
JACK Steven became one of just three men to win four St Kilda best-and-fairests when he claimed another Trevor Barker Award.
Only Jack Riewoldt (six) has won the award more times than Steven, who joined club greats Robert Harvey and Bill Cubbins as four-time champions.
The midfielder finished on 191 votes, ahead of Seb Ross (175) and Jack Steele (134).
“While we were inconsistent as a team, Jack continued to deliver week-in, week-out. It’s testament to the type of player and leader he is,” Saints coach Alan Richardson said.
“Jack sets a great example for our young group and is incredibly important for what we’re trying to build at our footy club.”
TOP 10
Jack Steven - 191
Seb Ross - 175
Jack Steele - 134
Jade Gresham - 126
Jarryn Geary - 118
Jimmy Webster - 109
Jake Carlisle - 103
Tim Membrey - 87
Jack Billings - 72
Daniel McKenzie - 69
WESTERN BULLDOGS
BULLDOGS star Lachie Hunter has caused a best-and-fairest boilover, upsetting Jack Macrae to pinch the Charles Sutton Medal by one vote.
And teenager Aaron Naughton placed fourth in his first AFL season despite completing just 17 games due to an ankle injury.
Naughton was drafted at No.9 last year and played on superstars including Lance Franklin, Joe Daniher and Jeremy Cameron in the early rounds with Dale Morris and Marcus Adams sidelined.
The re-signed West Australian led the Dogs in contested marks (27) and booted two goals against North Melbourne when swung forward in Round 14.
Hunter, 23, held on in a thrilling finish at Crown Palladium as Marcus Bontempelli secured a fourth consecutive top-three placing.
- Sam Landsberger
TOP 10
Lachie Hunter - 191
Jack Macrae - 190
Marcus Bontempelli - 154
Aaron Naughton - 120
Josh Dunkley - 110
Caleb Daniel - 110
Jason Johannisen - 109
Hayden Crozier - 98
Toby McLean - 91
Bailey Williams - 86
BRISBANE LIONS
MEDAL collector Dayne Zorko has continued his remarkable ascent into Lions folklore becoming the second man to win four consecutive Club Champion awards, after claiming the Merrett-Murray Medal in Brisbane on Friday night.
The prodigious trophy hunter will enter next season with club great Kevin Murray’s record of five straight from 1960-64 in his sights.
The count was the closest on record with Zorko winning by a vote over former skipper Dayne Beams.
The 29-year-old’s recognition saw him move to outright seventh on the all-time Club Champion list behind Murray (nine), John Murphy (five), Paul Roos (five), Allan Ruthven (five), Garry Wilson (five) and Michael Voss (five).
- Andrew Hamilton
TOP 10
Dayne Zorko - 250 votes
Dayne Beams - 249 votes
Stef Martin - 242 votes
Darcy Gardiner - 228 votes
Harris Andrews - 208 votes
Jarrod Berry - 205 votes
Hugh McCluggage - 200 votes
Luke Hodge - 185 votes
Nick Robertson - 172 votes
Alex Witherden - 170 votes
GOLD COAST
JARROD Harbrow cleaned up a host of awards including his first Gold Coast club championship.
Harbrow retraced his steps across the state as he also collected the Players’ Player and Community awards and became the first player at the club to achieve life membership.
Having finished second behind two-time winner Tom Lynch in 2016, Harbrow claimed the top gong for the first time.
Harbrow, who played all 22 games in 2018, this week signed a two-year deal that ensures he will retire as a Sun.
He polled 390 votes, edging out Touk Miller (351) and first-year Sun Lachie Weller (336).
- Andrew Hamilton
TOP 10
Jarrod Harbrow 390
Touk Miller 351
Lachie Weller 336
Rory Thompson 316
Alex Sexton 303
David Swallow 300
Aaron Young 261
Jarrod Witts 251
Nick Holman 251
Jack Martin 249
Originally published as Every AFL club best-and-fairest result for the 2018 season