EFL 2019: Brett Eddy claims Chandler Medal as Premier Division best and fairest

Vermont spearhead and former Port Adelaide player Brett Eddy has created a slice of EFL history after being crowned the Chandler medallist as the Premier Division best and fairest for 2019.

Brett Eddy shows off his Chandler Medal. Picture: Field of View Sports Photography

Vermont spearhead Brett Eddy kicked the most goals in EFL Premier Division in 2019 and polled the most votes to be crowned this year’s Chandler Medal winner.

It’s the first time a player in the top flight has won the league goalkicking and taken out the competition’s highest individual honour in the same year.

Eddy, 30, kicked 62 goals in the home and away season and topped the votes at Wednesday night’s best and fairest count at the Manningham Function Centre.

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“I’ll probably look back on it and go, ‘Wow, that’s a pretty good effort’,” Eddy said.

#ChandlerMedal | Vermont's Brett Eddy wins the EFL's top individual honour - the Sir Gilbert Chandler Medal, as the best and fairest in #EFLPremier Division!

Congratulations, Brett! pic.twitter.com/HHf6gH0iKS

— EFL (@footyefl) September 18, 2019

“Kicking goals in Vermont’s team, we’ve got seven or eight mids who crash in each week — just a super team.

“I’m just there catching it and kicking it straight … sometimes.”

Brett Eddy takes a mark for Vermont. Picture: David Crosling

Nine players were in the running to win the award when the Round 16 votes flashed on the projection screen.

Balwyn forward Charlie Haley led the count on 15 votes with two rounds remaining, while Eddy was tied with Anthony Brolic, Lachlan Howe and Jackson Sketcher on 12.

Eddy polled four votes in the final two games to win by one vote ahead of Haley, becoming the 11th Vermont player to receive the award.

Brett Eddy flies for a pack mark in a state game. Picture: Norm Oorloff

Brolic and Honeychurch finished equal third.

Eddy said he entered the evening not expecting to win, rating teammates Lachie Johns and Honeychurch and Rowville’s Brolic and South Croydon’s Matt Jones as the main chances.

“Even Round 16 I was still thinking I was a fair way off,” Eddy said.

“When I saw Charlie Haley was runner-up, I thought my name hadn’t been mentioned. I thought, ‘sh*t, I’ve actually got this’.

“I was a little bit embarrassed but honoured to win the award.”

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The South Gippsland product spent time in the VFL with Sandringham and Collingwood.

Eddy was a two-time SANFL leading goalkicker with South Adelaide and was drafted to Port Adelaide as a mature-aged recruit.

He played three AFL games in 2017 but was delisted at the end of that season before joining Vermont, playing in the Eagles’ premiership last year.

Brett Eddy celebrates A goal with Travis Boak. Picture Sarah Reed

Asked how he had broken the midfielders’ hold on the medal, Eddy said: “I probably had four or five games where I was clear best on — 10 and couple of sevens (goal hauls).

“Outside of that, I got my three and fours (majors) and pinched a few votes on those days.

“When I do play well, I play really well and when I don’t play really well I just find a way to contribute.”

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