It's the best and fairest season in the AFL, with many clubs preparing to celebrate their clubmen and most influential players.

The process begins with clubs who have missed the finals, while teams in the finals will hold their events after their campaign concludes.

The Sporting News reveals every best and fairest winner, key dates, and a leaderboard for each club.

AFL Best and Fairest 2023 winners and leaderboards

Adelaide - Malcolm Blight Medal

Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson has capped off an All-Australian season with his first best-and-fairest award.

The skipper finished ahead of three-time winner Rory Laird and veteran key forward Taylor Walker.

Leaderboard

How voting works

Adelaide’s Club Champion Award is calculated by coaches rating every player with a score from 1-10 after every game this season.

Last five winners

Brisbane - Merrett-Murray Medal

Intercept defender Harris Andrews has pipped Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale to Brisbane's best and fairest award.

Hugh McCluggage and Josh Dunkley finished third and fourth respectively.

Leaderboard

How voting works

N/A

Past five winners

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Carlton - John Nicholls Medal

Blues full-back Jacob Weitering has won his second Carlton best-and-fairest award ahead of fellow defender Nic Newman.

Weitering, who also clinched the award in 2020, finished well ahead of Newman, with Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow in third.

Leaderboard

How voting works

The John Nicholls Medal is voted on by senior coach Michael Voss and three assistants giving each player up to four votes at the end of every round, meaning a maximum of 16 votes is awarded to any single player per round.

Past five winners

Collingwood - E. W. Copeland Trophy

Wingman Josh Daicos has received the E.W Copeland Trophy for his consistent season in the Magpies midfield. 

The 24-year-old pipped brother Nick Daicos and defender Brayden Maynard, who finished equal second for their strong efforts. 

It's a prestigious achievement for Josh, who led Collingwood in total metres gained and kicks in 2023. 

Leaderboard

How voting works

N/A

Past five winners

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Essendon - Crichton Medal

Bombers midfielder Zach Merrett has taken out a fourth Crichton Medal after yet another impressive season in 2023.

In his first year as skipper, Merrett finished ahead of Kyle Langford and Mason Redman in the minor placings.

Leaderboard:

How voting works

The voting system consists of five coaches, giving each player a ranking from zero to five after each match. Players can receive a maximum of 25 votes for a game

Past five winners

Fremantle - Doig Medal

Fremantle has named star midfielder Caleb Serong its 2023 Doig Medallist, after an impressive season in which he led all players for total disposals. 

Serong joins fellow onballer Andrew Brayshaw, who won in 2022, as a Dockers best and fairest winner at 22 years of age. 

Leaderboard

How voting works

From Fremantle in 2022, "Following each game, Senior Coach Justin Longmuir and four coaches – Josh Carr, Matthew Boyd, Jaymie Graham and Joel Corey – allocated up to five votes to each player based on how they performed their role, meaning a player can receive up to 25 votes in a game for an elite performance."

Past five winners

Geelong - Carji Greeves Medal

Geelong backman Tom Stewart has taken out his second club best and fairest, winning in a wide margin from Tom Atkins.

Gryan Miers filled out the podium in a season in which the reigning premiers missed the top eight.

Leaderboard:

How voting works

After each game, the Senior and assistant coaches review and rate each players performance out of 10. Votes are polled in games where a player's performance has been deemed of a high quality by the coaching group. And unlike previous seasons, all matches are counted towards their final total.

Past five winners

Gold Coast - Club Champion

Gold Coast midfielder Noah Anderson has won his first Club Champion award at the Suns, after an outstanding fourth season.

Anderson led Gold Coast in total disposals and score involvements, as he played all available games in a consistent year. 

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Leaderboard:

How voting works

Voting is conducted by Gold Coast's four-man match committee.

An unlimited number of players can receive votes, but a player can only be given a maximum of 10 from each voting member, meaning they can get a maximum of 40 for a match.

Last five winners

GWS - Kevin Sheedy Medal

For the second time in his career, Toby Greene was awarded the Kevin Sheedy Medal.

Another standout season from the Giants skipper saw him finish ahead of Stephen Coniglio and Tom Green in equal-second place.

Leaderboard:

How voting works

Per GWS Giants: Under a new voting system this season, line coaches rated their respective players after each game from a pre-determined performance scale.

All line coaches then met to determine an overall rating for each player before submitting to head coach Adam Kingsley who allocated up to six (6) votes for each player.

Last five winners

Hawthorn - Peter Crimmins Medal

Hawks talent Will Day has pipped Jai Newcombe to his first best-and-fairest award, with unheralded midfielder Conor Nash in third.

All-Australian defender James Sicily finished fifth.

Leaderboard

How voting works

From Hawthorn: Votes for the 2022 Peter Crimmins Medal were awarded by three groups after each home-and-away match; Senior Coach Sam Mitchell, one card between Line Coaches David Hale, Robert Harvey, Chris Newman and one card between Senior Assistant Adrian Hickmott and Head of Development Andrew Collins.  

A maximum of 12 votes can be accumulated by a player after the four voting cards are submitted using the following grading system: three votes to the best player/s, two votes for a significant influence on the game, one vote to player/s who played their role or beat their opponent. On rare occasions a player/s may receive four votes for an exceptional game.

Last five winners

Melbourne - Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy

Midfield bull Christian Petracca has won the Keith 'Bluey" Truscott Trophy for 2023 as Melbourne's best and fairest. 

The 27-year-old finished with 602 votes, ahead of fellow onballer Jack Viney (527) in second. Petracca kicked 28 goals this season and averaged 27.8 disposals per game this season.

Leaderboard

How voting works

N/A

Last five winners

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North Melbourne - Syd Barker Medal

Harry Sheezel claimed North Melbourne's best and fairest award, becoming the first rookie to receive the honour in the AFL since 1997.

He edged out key forward Nick Larkey, who scored 71 goals in 2023.

Despite being drafted as a medium forward, 18-year-old Sheezel shifted to a defensive-oriented role, collecting more than 30 disposals on 12 separate occasions. 

 

 

 

 

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Leaderboard

How voting works

Per North Melbourne: The voting system consists of each player earning up to 20 votes in a match, with votes from all home and away games counting towards the final total. The senior and assistant coaches provide separate votes for each player per round, ranging from 0-10. One vote means a player played their role, and 10 votes denotes an exceptional performance.

Last five winners

Port Adelaide - John Cahill Medal

Power midfielder Zak Butters has clinched the John Cahill Medal from fellow onballer Connor Rozee.

All-Australian Dan Houston finished on the podium, while Willem Drew was a surprise fourth position.

Leaderboard

How voting works

Voting system: N/A

Last five winners

Richmond - Jack Dyer Medal

Inside midfielder Tim Taranto has taken out the Jack Dyer Medal in his first season in yellow and black, capping an excellent season. 

The hardworking ex-Giant led the Tigers in disposals, tackles, and clearances as he made an instant impact in the Richmond midfield. 

Fan-favourites Dustin Martin and Shai Bolton finished second and third respectively in the voting. 

Leaderboard

How voting works

Voting system: the match committee gives players a rating from 0-5 based on their overall match performance, taking into account offensive, defensive and contest impacts.

Last five winners

St Kilda - Trevor Barker Award

Jack Sinclair has won back-to-back Trevor Barker Medals, becoming only the 13th Saint to win the best-and-fairest award in consecutive seasons.

The All-Australian half-back managed to hold out Callum Wilkie in second, while ruckman Rowan Marshall was also on the podium.

Emerging talents Mitchito Owens and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera rounded out the top five.

Leaderboard

How voting works

Five coaches give a ranking from one to four after each match, with players being able to receive a maximum of 20 votes per game.

Last five winners

Sydney - Bob Skilton Medal

Sydney young gun Errol Gulden claimed a maiden Bob Skilton Medal in a runaway victory.

After a late-season run which saw him challenge for the Brownlow Medal, Gulden was the obvious choice to win Sydney's B&F and he took out the award well clear of Nick Blakey and James Rowbottom.

Leaderboard

Last five winners

How voting works

Club Champion votes are awarded by the coaching staff. A player can be awarded a maximum of 50 votes per game, and coaches can allocate up to 10 votes for as many or as few players as they deem appropriate, per match.

West Coast - John Worsfold Medal

Tim Kelly is the John Worsfold Medallist in 2023, after a strong year in the West Coast midfield. 

The 29-year-old led the Eagles in disposals, goal assists, and clearances as he took control of an injury-struck, young on-ball unit. 

Leaderboard

How voting works

Each member of the five-person match committee rates every player on a scale of 0-3 after each match.

Last five winners

Western Bulldogs - Charles Sutton Medal

Bulldogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli has won a fifth best and fairest for the club, as he closes in on Scott West's record of seven.

Tom Liberatore finished runner-up for the second consecutive year, while Ed Richards rounded out the top three.

Leaderboard

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How voting works

Each member of the five-person match committee rates every player on a scale of 0-5 after each match.

Last five winners