All Peter Jackson VFL clubs have now named their best-and-fairest award winners for 2016. vfl.com.au takes a look at who they are and how their seasons played out.
BOX HILL HAWKS
David Mirra claimed the Col Austen Trophy as Box Hill’s best and fairest following the defender’s impressive season.
Mirra won the award from second-placed Sam Iles and third-placed Teia Miles.
The 25-year-old played 18 matches in his seventh year for the club, being named in the best players on 12 occasions.
He averaged 21 disposals (16 kicks), seven marks and four rebound-50s per game.
Mirra also played his 100th game for the Hawks during the season and proved his football is improving year after year as their most consistent leader.
CASEY SCORPIONS
Scorpions captain Jack Hutchins produced a magnificent season in the back line to secure the 2016 Gardner Medal as Casey’s best and fairest.
24-year-old Hutchins won the award from second-placed Alex Neal-Bullen and third-placed Declan Keilty.
The 192cm defender played an integral part of Casey’s minor-premiership-winning season. He averaged 14 disposals and five marks per game across 20 matches.
His display of consistent football also earned him a spot at full back in the 2016 Peter Jackson VFL Team of the Year.
COBURG
Tom Goodwin was named the Jim Sullivan Medallist as Coburg’s best and fairest following a stand-out season as a ruckman.
The 201cm 25-year-old from East Ringwood polled 35 votes to finish in first place above Ozgur Uysal (31) and Ahmed Saad (30).
Goodwin played a dominant role across 17 matches in the ruck this year, averaging 11 disposals, 25 hitouts and five tackles per game.
The 2016 season was just his second for the club after making the move from the Box Hill Hawks.
His consistent performances and improvement also earned him Coburg’s inaugural Nick Carnell Leadership Award, after making the team’s leadership group at the start of the year.
COLLINGWOOD
Brent Macaffer claimed Collingwood’s Best-and-Fairest award after a stand-out season from the 28-year-old.
Macaffer played 17 matches for the VFL Magpies this season before announcing his retirement from the AFL and made a huge contribution to the team’s impressive results.
The 187cm utility kicked 11 goals for the year and averaged 22 disposals, seven tackles and four clearances per game.
Macaffer starred all season in a number of different roles for his side and his hard work and consistency helped Collingwood reach yet another finals series.
ESSENDON
Aaron Heppell (pictured, left) finished off a brilliant season by taking home the R.A Freeman Medal as Essendon’s best and fairest.
The 21-year-old won the award with 296 votes over captain Daniel Coghlan (229) and vice-captain Ben McNiece (209).
Heppell was a consistent performer across all 20 matches for the Bombers year, starting the season as a key part of the defence before becoming an important member of the on-ball brigade.
He averaged 20 disposals, five tackles and three rebound-50s per game, as well as having 15 score assists.
Heppell’s magnificent season also saw him earn selection in the 2016 Peter Jackson VFL Team of the Year.
FOOTSCRAY
Bulldogs skipper Jordan Russell capped off a memorable season by winning the club’s best-and-fairest award from Mitch Honeychurch.
Russell was state captain earlier in the year and also became a premiership captain for the Bulldogs for the second time in his career.
The 30-year-old led Footscray by example in defence, which saw him earn selection in the Peter Jackson VFL Team of the Year.
Russell averaged 22 disposals, six marks and five rebound-50s per game across 22 matches.
FRANKSTON
The Dolphins announced Josh Newman as their 2016 best and fairest after his strong season in defence.
The 182cm half back played a crucial role for his side all season, winning the award over second-placed back-to-back B&F Ben Cavarra.
21-year-old Newman helped his side set up attack from the back line across 15 matches, averaging 23 disposals, four marks and three rebound-50s per game.
While Frankston finished with two wins for the season, Newman was able to withstand the pressure and produce a terrific season as one the competition’s best defenders.
GEELONG
Robust midfielder Tom Atkins took home the Geelong’s 2016 best-and-fairest award after an outstanding season through the middle of the ground and up forward.
The 21-year-old polled 389 votes to overcome favourite Tom Stewart (385) and third-placed James Tsitas (351).
Atkins averaged 18 disposals, eight tackles and four clearances per game, as well as kicking 15 goals.
His efforts also earned him a spot as a forward pocket in the 2016 Peter Jackson VFL Team of the Year.
NORTH BALLARAT
Luke Kiel claimed the Allen L Stott Memorial Medal for the second consecutive year as the North Ballarat’s 2016 best and fairest.
The 180cm midfielder from Swan Hill polled 243 votes to win the award from Nick Rippon (150) and Rowan Marshall (141).
The 26-year-old was named in North Ballarat’s best players in 12 of the 17 matches he played, averaging 22 disposals, four clearances and four tackles per game.
Kiel also claimed the club’s most valuable teammate award, which was voted on by the playing group.
NORTHERN BLUES
Captain Tom Wilson (pictured, centre) capped off a dominant year through the midfield by winning the Laurie Hill Trophy as Northern’s best and fairest player for 2016.
Wilson won the award with 129 votes, 10 votes shy of the club’s all-time record.
The skipper was a force in the contests all season across 16 matches, averaging 22 disposals, five clearances and four tackles per game, while also kicking nine goals and recording nine score assists.
The 24-year-old’s impressive efforts also saw him earn a spot in the 2016 Peter Jackson VFL Team of the Year.
PORT MELBOURNE
Brody Mihocek (pictured, right) produced a stand-out first season at Port Melbourne to win the Jack McFarlane Medal as the club’s best and fairest player for 2016.
He won the award with 129 votes over runner-up Toby Pinwill (104) and third-placed Khan Haretuku (97).
The 23-year-old key-position player proved his versatility by making a consistent impact in both the forward and defensive halves of the ground across 19 matches.
Mihocek kicked 13 goals and averaged 16 disposals and six marks per game.
The award capped off a stellar season for Mihocek, who also received a call-up to the VFL representative side that took on South Australia at Adelaide Oval in May.
RICHMOND
Adam Marcon claimed the 2016 Guinane Medal as Richmond’s best and fairest.
The versatile 24-year-old displayed some outstanding football throughout his 15 matches this season, which included eight goals and 14 score assists from the midfield.
Marcon averaged 17 disposals, five tackles and four clearances per game.
His impressive performances also earned him two games in Richmond’s senior side. Marcon collected 16 disposals and laid five tackles in his debut against Greater Western Sydney and picked up 22 disposals and kicked a goal against Collingwood the following week.
SANDRINGHAM
Cameron Shenton produced some amazing football this season to earn himself the Neil Bencraft award as Sandringham’s best and fairest player for 2016.
The 26-year-old won the award with 110 votes from his 19 matches, to overcome runner-up Kade Answerth (83) and equal-third-placegetters Eli Templeton and Jack Sinclair (63).
Shenton started the season as a defender before being moved up forward and becoming a major scoreboard contributor.
His season record included 42 goals (second in the VFL) and 24 score assists, while he also averaged 16 disposals and five marks per game.
Shenton’s became the first St Kilda-listed player since Tom Curren in 2012 to win the Zebras’ best-and-fairest award.
WERRIBEE
Matt Hanson won the Bruce Montgomery Trophy for the second consecutive year as Werribee’s best and fairest player in 2016.
The 21-year-old finished above second-placed Declan Mountford and third-placed Ryan Clarke.
The 180cm midfielder averaged 24 disposals, seven tackles, six clearances and four inside-50s per game and also kicked 13 goals across 16 matches.
Hanson produced some consistently good football to earn both the award and selection in the 2016 Peter Jackson VFL Team of the Year.
WILLIAMSTOWN
Willie Wheeler pipped Michael Gibbons and Sam Dunell to win the 2016 Gerry Callahan Medal as Williamstown’s best and fairest.
The 24-year-old averaged 26 disposals, seven clearances and five tackles per game over the 21 matches he played this season, as well as kicking 10 goals and having 29 score assists from the midfield.
His magnificent season also earned him selection in the 2016 Peter Jackson VFL Team of the Year along with teammates Gibbons, Dunell, Nick Meese and Ben Jolley.
The win was Wheeler’s first best-and-fairest award for Williamstown after winning one with Coburg in 2012.
|
VFL CLUB
|
B&F
|
|
BOX HILL HAWKS
|
David Mirra
|
|
CASEY SCORPIONS
|
Jack Hutchins
|
|
COBURG
|
Tom Goodwin
|
|
COLLINGWOOD
|
Brent Macaffer
|
|
ESSENDON
|
Aaron Heppell
|
|
FOOTSCRAY
|
Jordan Russell
|
|
FRANKSTON
|
Josh Newman
|
|
GEELONG
|
Tom Atkins
|
|
NORTH BALLARAT
|
Luke Kiel
|
|
NORTHERN BLUES
|
Tom Wilson
|
|
PORT MELBOURNE
|
Brody Mihocek
|
|
RICHMOND
|
Adam Marcon
|
|
SANDRINGHAM
|
Cameron Shenton
|
|
WERRIBEE
|
Matt Hanson
|
|
WILLIAMSTOWN
|
Willie Wheeler
|
Last Modified on 20/10/2016 15:56
