Gawn grabs Bluey medal
MELBOURNE ruckman Max Gawn has capped-off a sensational season winning the Demons’ best-and-fairest ahead of Clayton Oliver.
The game’s most dominant big man played every game this year and polled 657 votes to win by 62 ahead of last year’s winner, Oliver.
Midfield hard-nut Angus Brayshaw, who was a shock third-place getter in the Brownlow Medal last week, finished sixth on 429.
Tagger James Harmes was recognised for his break-out season helping lock down on some of the competition’s best ballwinners, finishing third on 498 votes ahead of co-captain Nathan Jones (449).
Tom McDonald (433) rounded out the top-five slotting 53 goals in his first season as a full-time forward.
Gawn, 26, was furious with his form towards the end of last season, but bounced back superbly in 2018 to help Melbourne control games in the air and through the midfield.
The 208cm Sandingham product led the competition for hit outs with 1119 (average 45 a game) and was ranked eighth for average contested marks (2.2) in his eighth season.
He also played a crucial defensive role in the second half of the season to help cover the loss of star defender Jake Lever.
It was a remarkable performance from the dual All-Australian who has fought back from two career-threatening knee reconstructions suffered in 2009 and 2012.
Gawn also took out this year’s AFL Coaches Association player of the year and finished equal fourth in the Brownlow Medal on 20 votes, eight behind winner Tom Mitchell.
Gawn will play his 100th AFL match in Round 1 next season, barring injury.
Melbourne spearhead Jesse Hogan (365) was headed for a top-10 finish in last night’s best and fairest before a nasty foot injury ended his season early in the clash against Sydney in Round 21.
Hogan finished in 11th, one vote behind veteran Jordan Lewis, who will play on into a 15th and final season next year hunting a Melbourne premiership.
No. 2 draft pick Christian Petracca (268) finished 15th after an up-and-down season, while onballer Dom Tyson (125) faces an uncertain future and could be traded.
Tyson finished 23rd in last night’s club champion award from 17 senior matches.