Lachie Hunter claims his first Charles Sutton Medal ahead of Jack Macrae, Marcus Bontempelli
WESTERN Bulldogs star Lachie Hunter has caused a best-and-fairest boilover, pinching the Charles Sutton Medal by a single vote.
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WESTERN 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.
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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.
Bontempelli won the award in 2016-17 and placed third in 2018 and 2015.
Hunter finished sixth in 2017 and placed third in the 2016 premiership season.
The wingman averaged a career-high 30 disposals this year and ranked eighth in the AFL for effective disposals.
Hunter missed Round 5 through suspension - the only game he has missed since midway through 2015 - while Macrae missed three games due to a hamstring injury sustained in Round 13.
The ultra-consistent Macrae has now finished runner-up twice but is yet to claim a Sutton Medal.
Macrae has finished in the top-10 for the past five seasons, placing third last year and runner-up in 2014 and 2018.
Macrae’s average of 32.8 disposals ranked No.2 in the AFL this year, behind Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell’s 35.3.
Premiership player Josh Dunkley, who played three VFL games for Footscray, rounded out the top five in the best finish of his career.
Departing free agent Luke Dahlhaus finished outside the top 10 for the second consecutive season, although he did miss the final five games due to injury.
Dahlhaus, who has been holidaying with Tom Liberatore in Europe, was the only player who didn’t attend.
Free agent and 2014 winner Liberatore is set to sign a deal for 2019 shortly.
Leading goalkicker Billy Gowers (26 goals) and re-signed midfielder Mitch Wallis were also bumped outside the top 10.
Recruit Hayden Crozier placed seventh after failing to crack Fremantle’s best-and-fairest top 10 in his six seasons as a Docker.
Dashing defender Bailey Williams crept into the top 10 despite playing just 14 matches. Williams averaged more votes per game than the five players who finished directly in front of him.
Hunter celebrated his 100th game late in the season and is now in touching distance of father Mark, who played 130 games for Footscray from 1988-1996.
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