Robbie Gray is Port Adelaide’s 2015 best and fairest winner after holding out a fast-finishing Chad Wingard to claim his second John Cahill Medal on Saturday night.
Gray had a comfortable lead on Wingard for most of the count, but strong form in the second half of the season saw Wingard rocket up the leader board to finish only 13 votes behind Gray.
The one-two finish caps off a great year for the pair, who both received All-Australian honours.
Gray now joins club greats Warren Tredrea and Kane Cornes as the only players to win multiple best and fairest awards at AFL level.
The back-to-back winner proved himself as a full-time midfielder in 2015, averaging 26.3 possessions, 7.7 clearances (third in league) and 14.1 contested possessions (sixth in league) per game.
Standout games included a Showdown Medal-winning performance in Round 5, a clinical display against the Saints in Round 18 and a lazy 34 possessions with four goal assists against Hawthorn in Round 21.
Young defender Jack Hombsch finished third in a breakout season while Power captain Travis Boak and Justin Westhoff rounded out the top five.
Boak took out the Fos Williams Medal (best team player) while Ollie Wines won his third-straight Gavin Wanganeen Medal (best player under 21).
Nathan Krakouer was rewarded with the John McCarthy Award (community award) but shied away from giving an acceptance speech. The win highlights the newfound maturity of the 27-year-old, who made a successful comeback to AFL football in 2015.
Alipate Carlile and Steve Summerton joined retiring players Kane Cornes and Tom Logan on the Port Adelaide life membership list after giving 10 years of service to the Power and the Magpies respectively.
The club also paid tribute to Trevor ‘Bubbles’ Obst, Port Adelaide champion and grandfather of Brad Ebert, who passed away last week at the age of 75. Obst won four Premierships with the Port Adelaide Magpies during his 14-year career, playing mostly as a rebounding defender.
In 1967, Obst was awarded the Magarey Medal, the SANFL equivalent of the Brownlow, in a time when defenders rarely received due praise.
Top 10: John Cahill Medal
1. Robbie Gray – 243
2. Chad Wingard – 230
3. Jack Hombsch – 177
4. Travis Boak – 173
5. Justin Westhoff – 156
6. Brad Ebert – 140
7. Matthew Broadbent – 134
8. Hamish Hartlett – 132
9. Paddy Ryder – 125
10. Ollie Wines – 119
Josh
Expert
Good to see a bit of recognition for Jack Hombsch in the voting.
Tony Dorsi
Roar Rookie
The way I understand it, the Power players were sent off to take their break straight after round 23 so that they could come back and prepare for the 2016 season ASAP. The Port Magpies were still competing in the SANFL finals and then started their break after being knocked out, so the start of 2016 pre-season was the next time all players would be back at the club. I agree it's an awkward time to hold a best and fairest though - Imagine the Crows in this situation? Dangerfield would have walked onto the stage wearing a Geelong tie.
Winston
Guest
Did they seriously only have this last Saturday? Preseason's started, so players can't even drink much. And half the team's been turned over by delistings, trades and retirements. Seems a bit of a nothing event if you ask me.
Tony
Guest
Judging by the pics on the net, Robbie Gray needs to improve his dress sense :-)