Crichton Medal

Award for the best and fairest player of the Essendon Football Club

Award

Crichton Medal

Awarded for| The best and fairest player of the Essendon Football Club
Location| Crown Palladium Ballroom
Country| Australia
Presented by| Essendon Football Club
First award| 1897
Final award| 2024
Currently held by| Zach Merrett
Website| Essendon Football Club Honours

The Crichton Medal is the name given to the best and fairest award for the Australian rules football team the Essendon Football Club. Since 1959 or 1960, it has been known officially as the W. S. Crichton Medal.[citation needed] The naming of the award is in honour of Wally Crichton, a former administrator for Essendon (who was a committeeman from 1926 to 1931, vice-president from 1932 to 1940, and president from 1941 to 1959).[1] The voting system as of the 2017 AFL season 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.[2]

Essendon's best-and-fairest award has been awarded since 1897, although records of winners between 1897 and 1921 are incomplete. The award was suspended during World War I.

## Recipients

[edit]

^  | Denotes current player

|

\+  | Player won Brownlow Medal in same season
Season  | Recipient(s)  | Ref.

|
|

1897 | — | [a]
1898 | — | [a]
1899 | — | [a]
1900 | — | [a]
1901 | Albert Thurgood |
1902 | Hugh Gavin |
1903 | — | [a]
1904 | — | [a]
1905 | — | [a]
1906 | Jack McKenzie |
1907 | — | [a]
1908 | Bill Busbridge |
1909 | Bill Busbridge (2) |
1910 | — | [a]
1911 | Ernie Cameron |
1912 | Ernie Cameron (2) |
1913 | Fred Baring |
1914 | — | [a]
1915 | — | [a]
1916 | — | [b]
1917 | — | [b]
1918 | — | [a]
1919 | — | [a]
1920 | Jack Garden |
1921 | — | [a]
1922 | Tom Fitzmaurice |
1923 | Tom Fitzmaurice (2) |
1924 | Tom Fitzmaurice (3) |
1925 | Greg Stockdale |
1926 | Joe Harrison |
1927 | Frank Maher |
1928 | Norm Beckton |
1929 | Howard Okey |
1930 | Keith Forbes |
1931 | Tom Clarke |
1932 | Syd Carman |
1933 | Paddy Walsh |
1934 | Dick Reynolds+ |
1935 | Keith Forbes (2) |
1936 | Dick Reynolds (2) |
1937 | Dick Reynolds\+ (3) |
1938 | Dick Reynolds\+ (4) |
1939 | Dick Reynolds (5) |
1940 | Hugh Torney |
1941 | Wally Buttsworth |
1942 | Dick Reynolds (6) |
1943 | Dick Reynolds (7) |
1944 | Perc Bushby |
1945 | Wally Buttsworth (2) |
1946 | Wally Buttsworth (3) |
1947 | Bill Hutchison |
1948 | Bill Hutchison (2) |
1949 | John Coleman |
1950 | Bill Hutchison (3) |
1951 | Norm McDonald |
1952 | Bill Hutchison\+ (4) |
1953 | Bill Hutchison\+ (5) |
1954 | John Gill |
1955 | Bill Hutchison (6) |
1956 | Bill Hutchison (7) |
1957 | Reg Burgess |
1958 | Jack Clarke |
1959 | Hugh Mitchell |
1960 | Reg Burgess (2) |
1961 | John Birt |
1962 | Jack Clarke (2) |
1963 | Ken Fraser |
1964 | Ken Fraser (2) |
1965 | John Birt (2) |
1966 | Don McKenzie |
1967 | John Birt (3) |
1968 | Barry Davis |
1969 | Barry Davis (2) |
1970 | Darryl Gerlach |
1971 | Barry Davis (3) |
1972 | Neville Fields |
1973 | Andy Wilson |
1974 | Graham Moss |
1975 | Graham Moss (2) |
1976 | Graham Moss\+ (3) |
1977 | Simon Madden |
1978 | Ken Fletcher |
1979 | Simon Madden (2) |
1980 | Tim Watson |
1981 | Neale Daniher |
1982 | Terry Daniher |
1983 | Simon Madden (3) |
1984 | Simon Madden (4) |
1985 | Tim Watson (2) |
1986 | Glenn Hawker |
1987 | Mark Thompson |
1988 | Tim Watson (3) |
1989 | Tim Watson (4) |
1990 | Mark Thompson (2) |
1991 | Alan Ezard |
1992 | Mark Harvey |
1993 | Gary O'Donnell |
1994 | James Hird |
1995 | James Hird (2) |
1996 | James Hird\+ (3) |
1997 | Sean Denham |
1998 | Damien Hardwick |
1999 | Mark Mercuri |
2000 | Dustin Fletcher | [3]
2001 | Jason Johnson | [4]
2002 | Mark Johnson | [5]
2003 | James Hird (4) | [6]
Scott Lucas
2004 | Adam McPhee | [7]
2005 | Jason Johnson (2) | [8]
2006 | Scott Lucas (2) | [9]
2007 | James Hird (5) | [10]
2008 | David Hille | [11]
2009 | Jobe Watson | [12]
2010 | Jobe Watson (2) | [13]
2011 | David Zaharakis | [14]
2012 | Jobe Watson (3) | [15]
2013 | Brendon Goddard | [16]
2014 | Dyson Heppell | [17]
2015 | Cale Hooker | [18]
2016 | Zach Merrett^ | [19]
2017 | Joe Daniher | [20]
2018 | Devon Smith | [21]
2019 | Zach Merrett^ (2) | [22]
2020 | Jordan Ridley^ | [23]
2021 | Zach Merrett^ (3) | [24]
2022 | Peter Wright^
2023 | Zach Merrett^ (4) | [25]
2024 | Zach Merrett^ (5) | [26]

## Multiple winners

[edit]

^  | Denotes current player

|

Player  | Medals  | Seasons

|
|

Bill Hutchison | 7 | 1947, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956
Dick Reynolds | 7 | 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1942, 1943
Zach Merrett^ | 5 | 2016, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
James Hird | 5 | 1994, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2007
Simon Madden | 4 | 1977, 1979, 1983, 1984
Tim Watson | 4 | 1980, 1985, 1988, 1989
John Birt | 3 | 1961, 1965, 1967
Wally Buttsworth | 3 | 1941, 1945, 1946
Barry Davis | 3 | 1968, 1969, 1971
Tom Fitzmaurice | 3 | 1922, 1923, 1924
Graham Moss | 3 | 1974, 1975, 1976
Jobe Watson | 3 | 2009, 2010, 2012
Reg Burgess | 2 | 1957, 1960
Bill Busbridge | 2 | 1908, 1909
Ernie Cameron | 2 | 1911, 1912
Jack Clarke | 2 | 1958, 1962
Keith Forbes | 2 | 1930, 1935
Ken Fraser | 2 | 1963, 1964
Jason Johnson | 2 | 2001, 2005
Scott Lucas | 2 | 2003, 2006
Mark Thompson | 2 | 1987, 1990

## Notes

[edit]

* a The best-and-fairest was first awarded in 1897; however, records from 1897 to 1921 are incomplete.
* b The Essendon Football Club did not participate in the 1916 and 1917 VFL seasons due to World War I.

## References

[edit]

General

* "The Crichton Medal – year by year". EssendonFC.com.au. Bigpond. 9 September 2015. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.

Specific

1. ^ "Crichton Medal Honour Roll". 23 September 2017.
2. ^ "AFL Best and Fairest winners 2017: Who won your team's club champion award?". Fox Sports Australia. News Corp Australia. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
3. ^ Chreny, Daniel (11 October 2014). "Essendon's Dustin Fletcher decides to play on in 2015". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
4. ^ "Jason Johnson Claims W.S.Crichton Medal". EssendonFC.com.au. Bigpond. 3 October 2001. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
5. ^ Connolly, Rohan (3 October 2002). "Essendon's other Johnson takes honours". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
6. ^ Johnson, Len (2 October 2003). "Hird and Lucas share medal". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
7. ^ "Magnificent McPhee". EssendonFC.com.au. Bigpond. 29 September 2005. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
8. ^ "ohnson among Essendon elite". EssendonFC.com.au. Bigpond. 29 September 2005. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
9. ^ "Lucas wins second Crichton Medal". ABC Online. Australian Associated Press. 14 September 2006. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
10. ^ Australian Associated Press (3 October 2007). "Retired Essendon star James Hird wins fifth fairest-and-best". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 11 August 2016.[permanent dead link]
11. ^ Robinson, Mark (2 October 2008). "David Hille wins Crichton Medal as Essendon's best player". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
12. ^ Williams, Rebecca (1 October 2009). "Jobe Watson wins 2009 Essendon best-and-fairest award". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
13. ^ Australian Associated Press (1 October 2010). "Essendon captain Jobe Watson wins Crichton medal as best and fairest". Fox Sports (Australia). News Corp Australia. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
14. ^ Pierik, Jon (8 October 2011). "Zaharakis wins medal". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
15. ^ Matthews, Bruce (4 October 2012). "Essendon captain Jobe Watson caps his season off by capturing his third Bombers best and fairest". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
16. ^ Sewell, Eliza (2 October 2013). "Essendon utility Brendon Goddard snares best-and-fairest, then talks premierships". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
17. ^ Phelan, Jennifer (1 October 2014). "Heppell's rise continues with dominant Essendon best and fairest victory". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
18. ^ Baker, Grant (16 September 2015). "Cale Hooker awarded first Crichton Medal as Essendon's best and fairest". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
19. ^ Twomey, Callum (31 August 2016). "Young gun Don a runaway winner at Crichton Medal". AFL.com.au. Bigpond. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
20. ^ Walsh, Conor (5 October 2017). "Don's dynasty: Leaping Bomber wins first Crichton". afl.com.au. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
21. ^ Twomey, Callum (4 October 2018). "Dons' instant hit wins first Crichton Medal". afl.com.au. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
22. ^ Walsh, Conor (1 October 2017). "Merrett wins second Crichton Medal". essendonfc.com.au. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
23. ^ "Ridley wins 2020 Crichton Medal". essendonfc.com.au. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
24. ^ "Merrett joins three-time club". essendonfc.com.au. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
25. ^ "Merrett wins fourth Crichton Medal". 5 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
26. ^ "High-five: Merrett joins club greats after claiming fifth Crichton Medal". 3 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Essendon Football Club

* Nickname: Bombers

* History
* Premierships
* Records
* Players
* Captains
* Coaches
* Honours
* Crichton Medal
* AFLW best and fairest
* Leading goalkickers

* AFL coach: Brad Scott
* AFL captain: Zach Merrett

* AFLW coach: Natalie Wood
* AFLW co-captains: Steph Cain & Bonnie Toogood

VFL/AFL home grounds|

* East Melbourne Cricket Ground (1897–1921)
* Windy Hill (1922–1991)
* Melbourne Cricket Ground (1992–)
* Docklands Stadium (2000–)

VFA premierships (4)|

* 1891
* 1892
* 1893
* 1894

VFL/AFL premierships (16)|

* 1897
* 1901
* 1911
* 1912
* 1923
* 1924
* 1942
* 1946
* 1949
* 1950
* 1962
* 1965
* 1984
* 1985
* 1993
* 2000

Runner-up (14)|

* 1898
* 1902
* 1908
* 1941
* 1943
* 1947
* 1948
* 1951
* 1957
* 1959
* 1968
* 1983
* 1990
* 2001

VFA/VFL/AFL seasons (146)
(club articles in bold)|

* 1878
* 1879
* 1880
* 1881
* 1882
* 1883
* 1884
* 1885
* 1886
* 1887
* 1888
* 1889
* 1890
* 1891
* 1892
* 1893
* 1894
* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899
* 1900
* 1901
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

AFLW home grounds|

* North Port Oval (2022 (S7))
* Windy Hill (2023–)

AFLW seasons (3)|

* 2022 (S7)
* 2023
* 2024

Related articles|

* Anzac Day match
* Archer–Hird Medal
* Carlton rivalry
* Dreamtime at the 'G
* The Hangar
* Line in the Sand Match
* Round 16, 2001 comeback against North Melbourne
* Supplements saga
* West Melbourne Football Club

Essendon did not participate in the 1916 and 1917 VFL seasons due to World War I (indicated in grey)

* v
* t
* e

Crichton Medal * Essendon Football Club best and fairest winners

* 1901: Thurgood
* 1902: Gavin
* 1903: N/A
* 1904: N/A
* 1905: N/A
* 1906: J. McKenzie
* 1907: N/A
* 1908: Busbridge
* 1909: Busbridge
* 1910: N/A
* 1911: Cameron
* 1912: Cameron
* 1913: Baring
* 1914: N/A
* 1915: N/A
* 1916: N/A
* 1917: N/A
* 1918: N/A
* 1919: N/A
* 1920: Garden
* 1921: N/A
* 1922: Fitzmaurice
* 1923: Fitzmaurice
* 1924: Fitzmaurice
* 1925: Stockdale
* 1926: Harrison
* 1927: Maher
* 1928: Beckton
* 1929: Okey
* 1930: Forbes
* 1931: T. Clarke
* 1932: Carman
* 1933: Walsh
* 1934: Reynolds
* 1935: Forbes
* 1936: Reynolds
* 1937: Reynolds
* 1938: Reynolds
* 1939: Reynolds
* 1940: Torney
* 1941: Buttsworth
* 1942: Reynolds
* 1943: Reynolds
* 1944: Bushby
* 1945: Buttsworth
* 1946: Buttsworth
* 1947: Hutchison
* 1948: Hutchison
* 1949: Coleman
* 1950: Hutchison
* 1951: McDonald
* 1952: Hutchison
* 1953: Hutchison
* 1954: Gill
* 1955: Hutchison
* 1956: Hutchison
* 1957: Burgess
* 1958: J. Clarke
* 1959: Mitchell
* 1960: Burgess
* 1961: Birt
* 1962: J. Clarke
* 1963: Fraser
* 1964: Fraser
* 1965: Birt
* 1966: D. McKenzie
* 1967: Birt
* 1968: Davis
* 1969: Davis
* 1970: Gerlach
* 1971: Davis
* 1972: Fields
* 1973: Wilson
* 1974: Moss
* 1975: Moss
* 1976: Moss
* 1977: Madden
* 1978: K. Fletcher
* 1979: Madden
* 1980: T. Watson
* 1981: N. Daniher
* 1982: T. Daniher
* 1983: Madden
* 1984: Madden
* 1985: T. Watson
* 1986: Hawker
* 1987: Thompson
* 1988: T. Watson
* 1989: T. Watson
* 1990: Thompson
* 1991: Ezard
* 1992: Harvey
* 1993: O'Donnell
* 1994: Hird
* 1995: Hird
* 1996: Hird
* 1997: Denham
* 1998: Hardwick
* 1999: Mercuri
* 2000: D. Fletcher
* 2001: J. Johnson
* 2002: M. Johnson
* 2003: Hird/Lucas
* 2004: McPhee
* 2005: J. Johnson
* 2006: Lucas
* 2007: Hird
* 2008: Hille
* 2009: J. Watson
* 2010: J. Watson
* 2011: Zaharakis
* 2012: J. Watson
* 2013: Goddard
* 2014: Heppell
* 2015: Hooker
* 2016: Merrett
* 2017: J. Daniher
* 2018: Smith
* 2019: Merrett
* 2020: Ridley
* 2021: Merrett
* 2022: Wright
* 2023: Merrett
* 2024: Merrett

* v
* t
* e

Best and fairest awards in the Australian Football League

Current awards|

* Brownlow Medal (league-wide)
* Malcolm Blight Medal (Adelaide)
* Merrett–Murray Medal (Brisbane Lions)
* John Nicholls Medal (Carlton)
* Copeland Trophy (Collingwood)
* Crichton Medal (Essendon)
* Doig Medal (Fremantle)
* Carji Greeves Medal (Geelong)
* Gold Coast Suns Club Champion (Gold Coast)
* Kevin Sheedy Medal (Greater Western Sydney)
* Peter Crimmins Medal (Hawthorn)
* Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy (Melbourne)
* Syd Barker Medal (North Melbourne)
* John Cahill Medal (Port Adelaide)
* Jack Dyer Medal (Richmond)
* Trevor Barker Award (St Kilda)
* Bob Skilton Medal (Sydney)
* John Worsfold Medal (West Coast)
* Charles Sutton Medal (Western Bulldogs)

Former awards|

* Brisbane Bears Club Champion (Brisbane Bears)
* Mitchell Medal (Fitzroy)

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