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Picking every AFL club's best-and-fairest winner: Adelaide to Fremantle

Rory Laird of the Crows (AAP Image/David Mariuz)
Expert
27th August, 2018
5

With the home-and-away season done and dusted, it’s finals time and awards season.

Clubs have their best and fairest counts at different stages of their off-season, with some coming up very quickly.

With some excellent individual performances throughout the seasons from every club, it’s time to look at who will be successful at their respective club with this big best and fairest preview.

Adelaide Crows

Malcolm Blight Medal – Rory Laird

In a dark season for the Crows, there have been a few shining lights at the club. Rory Laird should win his first Malcolm Blight Medal having put together a stunning ball-winning season out of defence.

A lock for the All-Australian team again, Laird has posted career-high numbers in disposals, rebounds, clearances, contested possessions and goal assists.

Bryce Gibbs has been a fantastic addition to the midfield, providing a mix of grunt and class, while Matt Crouch has gone about his work quietly, although he hasn’t quite been as good as his impressive 2017 season.

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Daniel Talia is usually positioned well in the club’s best and fairest given his importance to the club, while Paul Seedsman has thrived playing regular, senior football in 2018 producing a career-best season, which has resulted in him re-signing with the club for a further three seasons.

Tom Doedee and Hugh Greenwood could be left-field names that collect some votes for the Crows.

Predicted top five
1. Laird, 2. Gibbs, 3. Crouch, 4. Talia, 5. Seedsman

Brisbane Lions

Merrett-Murray Medal – Dayne Beams

It’s a clear two-horse race for Brisbane’s best and fairest in 2018, with Dayne Zorko’s streak coming to an end.

It may well be former skipper Dayne Beams who takes out the medal, after an impressive season following a difficult start from a personal standpoint.

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Averaging 29 disposals, five marks, five clearances and nearly a goal a game, Beams has been the key to Brisbane’s competitiveness this season.

Dayne Beams Brisbane Lions AFL 2017

(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Harris Andrews is the only other player who will challenge for the award following a breakout season. He missed four games due to the horrific incident against GWS, however, Andrews has been a pillar in Brisbane’s defence.

Zorko hasn’t had his best season, yet has still managed to average 21 disposals, seven tackles, five clearances, five inside 50s and over a goal a game, while Stef Martin and Alex Witherden have been some of Brisbane’s better contributors.

Predicted top five
1. Beams, 2. Andrews, 3. Zorko, 4. Martin, 5. Witherden

Carlton Blues

John Nicholls Medal – Patrick Cripps

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It really can’t be anyone else for the Blues, with Patrick Cripps expected to win his second best and fairest award in his young career.

He has been the clear beacon of light for Carlton, posting ridiculous numbers considering he gets targeted on a weekly basis.

He’ll win a number of these awards throughout his career, however Charlie Curnow, who will definitely finish in the top five, will be his main rival in years to come.

The older Curnow brother continues to be an underrated contributor at senior level, posting some big numbers while playing a team role when required.

Kade Simpson will push for a top-three finish this season after somehow statistically producing one of the best seasons of his career at 34 years of age, while Dale Thomas deserves recognition for backing himself in and putting together a really solid year across half-back.

The 31-year-old had his best year at the Blues and looks set to continue playing in the future.

Predicted top five
1. Cripps, 2. Curnow, 3. Simpson, 4. Curnow, 5. Thomas

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Collingwood Magpies

Copeland Trophy – Brodie Grundy

Brodie Grundy will be the first ruckman to win a Copeland Trophy since Wes Fellowes in 1986 should he deservedly take the award home this season.

Most expected Grundy to have a breakout year but, in averaging 21 disposals, 39 hitouts, five tackles and five clearances a game, he has put himself in a position to be the best polling ruckman at the Brownlow in the last decade.

Brodie Grundy celebrates kicking a goal

(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

As Collingwood’s most important player, Grundy’s season will likely put him ahead of usual high-finishers Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom in the best and fairest.

A top-five finish in a club’s best and fairest is a fantastic achievement, and Collingwood’s success means a number of players will be fighting for recognition in these positions.

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Jordan de Goey has missed a few games at different stages, however, he has starred in attack averaging 17 disposals and two goals a game.

Josh Thomas and Will Hoskin-Elliott are fully deserving of a top-five finish, however, Tom Phillips has enjoyed a strong breakout season as a true wingman.

Predicted top five
1. Grundy, 2. Pendlebury, 3. Sidebottom, 4. De Goey, 5. Phillips

Essendon Bombers

Crichton Medal – Devon Smith

There’ll be cases made for who is the best recruit in 2018, and Devon Smith can certainly lay claims to the title.

Getting an opportunity to play as a full-time midfielder, Smith broke the record for most tackles in a season, highlighting his appetite for the contest.

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It was the most consistent season of his career and moved him ahead of Dyson Heppell in the race for the Crichton Medal.

Zach Merrett started the season off slowly and, despite producing some quality performances in the second half of the year, it won’t be enough to win his second medal.

Devon Smith

(Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Cale Hooker had an interesting season, spending time at both ends of the ground. His impact in attack was inconsistent, but returning to his natural defensive position helped the team immensely.

Coaches always love ‘Mr Fix-It’ types, and Hooker will likely be rewarded with a top-five finish. Tom Bellchambers enjoyed the best season of his career and could sneak into fifth position.

Predicted top five
1. Smith, 2. Heppell, 3. Merrett, 4. Hooker, 5. Bellchambers

Fremantle Dockers

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Doig Medal – Lachie Neale

Neale was one of just two players to play every game this season for the Dockers, and his consistency throughout the season is deserving of his second Doig Medal.

Averaging 30 disposals and seven clearances a game, Neale was the standout performer in constantly difficult midfield battles.

Ed Langdon’s breakout year, which saw him take the main wing position due to the Hill brothers’ absences in 2018, will likely boost him into a top-three position in the best and fairest. His performances at Perth Stadium were particularly impressive.

Fyfe may have won the Brownlow this season in a perfect world, and despite missing seven games, he will challenge for the top prize at Fremantle.

David Mundy’s experience in attack certainly helped the club, and the 33-year old finished in the top 15 in the league for score involvements.

While Michael Walters was inconsistent, he spent more time in the midfield and was a dangerous presence overall.

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Luke Ryan and Alex Pearce are two that may push for position in the top five of the Doig Medal, although Fremantle’s defence was under siege consistently which saw some high scores conceded.

Predicted top five
1. Neale, 2. Langdon, 3. Fyfe, 4. Mundy, 5. Walters

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