Malcolm Blight Medal: Jordan Dawson wins best and fairest in second year at the club
In his first season as captain of Adelaide, Jordan Dawson has won the club’s best and fairest. Check out the top 10 leaderboard and other award winners here.
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Adelaide captain, All-Australian – now Jordan Dawson can add Malcolm Blight Medallist to the list of titles he has obtained in 2023.
Dawson’s standout year culminated with him winning his first Crows best and fairest on Saturday night.
The 26-year-old, who thrived after moving to the midfield this past season, polled 132 votes to finish ahead of three-time Adelaide club champion Rory Laird (115) and former skipper Taylor Walker (98).
Dawson’s form was reflected in career-high averages in disposals (27.1), contested possessions (9.4), tackles (6.6), inside 50s (5.6) and clearances (3.8).
He did not miss a game.
Several of his best performances came in big matches, such as against Port Adelaide in April, when he won his second Showdown Medal, as well as against premier Collingwood twice, runner-up Brisbane and Carlton in Gather Round.
The ex-Swan’s rise to stardom during his second year as a Crow included succeeding Rory Sloane as captain in February and becoming an All-Australian for the first time.
Laird’s consistency was recognised with a seventh consecutive top-three finish on Saturday night.
A Malcolm Blight Medallist in 2018, 2021 and 2022, Laird played all bar one game this season to finish equal-third in the AFL for total tackles (175) and eighth for average disposals (29).
Walker, who also earnt his first All-Australian blazer in 2023, polled the maximum of 10 votes twice on his way to placing third.
Goalsneak Izak Rankine capped his impressive debut campaign for the Crows to tie for fourth on 92 votes with reliable defender Mitch Hinge.
Walker also won his seventh leading goalkicker award after booting 76 majors to sit second in the Coleman Medal and was named the members’ MVP.
In other honours, backman Max Michalanney received the Mark Bickley Emerging Talent Award for a stellar first season, ruckman Reilly O’Brien was selected as Best Team Man and delisted defender Andrew McPherson got the Dr Brian Sando Trophy in recognition of his professionalism during an injury-hampered campaign.
Dawson also received the Players Trademark Award, while axed Crow Jackson Hately was crowned SANFL club champion and Blayne O’Loughlin was named Adelaide’s best development player.
Adelaide’s club champion votes are determined by coaches rating every player with a score from 0-10 after each game.
Originally published as Malcolm Blight Medal: Jordan Dawson wins best and fairest in second year at the club
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