Melbourne midfielder Jack Viney has won the Demons’ best and fairest award

MELBOURNE midfielder Jack Viney has won his first Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Medal, knocking off his captain Nathan Jones and All Australian ruckman Max Gawn.

Jack Viney won Melbourne’s best and fairest. Picture: Getty Images

MELBOURNE midfielder Jack Viney has won his first Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Medal, knocking off his captain Nathan Jones and All Australian ruckman Max Gawn.

The courageous 22-year-old polled 407 votes from his 21 games, winning by eight votes from Jones (399), with Gawn (374) surprisingly back in third spot.

The victory created a record for the Demons, with Viney joining his dad, Todd, as a club best-and-fairest winner — the first father-son combination since the club first struck the medal in 1935.

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Todd Viney won two club champion awards, in 1993 and 1998.

Jack Viney, who was second in the award last year to Bernie Vince, also won the Ron Barassi Jnr Trophy (Leadership Award), highlighting why he is considered the next in line to captain the Demons.

Gawn had been expected to challenge Viney for the position, but the latter’s consistency won out in the end, with Jones — a three-time winner — splitting the two.

Nathan Jones and Jack Viney finished first and second in the Demons best and fairest.

The popular ruckman, whose breakout season was rewarded with All Australian selection last Thursday, won the Coaches’ Award, and the James McDonald Trophy (Heart and Spirit Award), capping off a remarkable season.

Jayden Hunt, unlucky to miss an AFL Rising Star nomination, won the best Young Player award, finishing just outside the top 10 in the vote count.

Neville Jetta won the club’s community award for a second consecutive year, while Jack Grimes secured the best VFL player award.

Dom Tyson (357) was fourth in the best-and-fairest count, while Jack Watts was in fifth place with 308 votes.

Originally published as Melbourne midfielder Jack Viney has won the Demons’ best and fairest award