Feisty midfielder Caleb Serong received his first Doig Medal in a blaze of purple glory on Tuesday evening, including Fremantle’s best-and-fairest award to a maiden All-Australian blazer to cap a stellar particular person 2023.
A transparent favorite getting into the rely at Crown Perth, Serong polled 222 votes, 43 greater than runner-up and 2022 winner Andrew Brayshaw on 179.
Luke Ryan completed third (179), whereas prized recruit Luke Jackson (158) and Hayden Young (140) rounded out the highest 5.
Serong averaged 30.7 disposals per sport, nearly six greater than his profession median, and was rated elite in clearances (7.6), above common in tackles (5) and within the prime 5 of the competitors for contested possessions.
“He was our most consistent player and it was at such a high level,” Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir stated.
“We highly value the contest and stoppage, and he was able to have an impact in those areas in almost every game.
“He’s improving year on year, which is what all young players are aiming to do, and winning the Doig Medal is great recognition of the work he’s put in over a number of years.
“He’s always looking for different aspects to improve within his game and it’s great that he gets rewarded for that.”
Serong, at 22, turns into the third-youngest participant to win the Doig Medal, behind Matthew Pavlich (20) in 2002 and Nat Fyfe (22) in 2013. Brayshaw additionally received the medal as a 22-year-old final season.
Serong and Brayshaw are thought-about future captains of the membership.
It was Brayshaw’s fourth consecutive top-three end, after an equal-third in 2020, third in 2021 and win in 2022.
Lachie Schultz and Sam Switkowski tied for sixth on 139 votes forward of Alex Pearce (134 votes), Brennan Cox (117 votes) and Michael Frederick (112 votes) to fill the highest 10.
Serong’s 12 months was a spotlight in a disappointing 12 months for the Dockers, who completed 14th on 10 wins after getting into the season a top-four prospect,
The rely underlined Fremantle’s youthful promise, with 4 gamers from the 2019 nationwide draft within the prime 10: Serong (chosen with decide eight), Jackson (Melbourne’s decide three), Young (seven) and Frederick (61).
Longmuir and assistants Matthew Boyd, Jaymie Graham and Joel Corey gave each participant a ranking out of 5 after every sport as much as a most of 20 votes per match.
Forward Jye Amiss, 20, received the Beacon Award as Fremantle’s most promising younger participant with 41 targets. He additionally completed fourth within the AFL’s Rising Star award.
Josh Corbett took out the most effective clubman award in his first 12 months at Fremantle after crossing from Gold Coast. He performed 5 video games after making his membership debut because the tactical sub in Fremantle’s Len Hall Tribute match in opposition to the Western Bulldogs in spherical six. He can be a coach with the Dockers’ AFLW workforce.
Four new life members have been named, together with the primary two ladies to realize the honour in Kara Antonio and Hayley Miller.
Antonio, the membership’s inaugural AFLW captain from 2017 to 2021, performed 47 video games over six seasons.
Miller, the membership’s present AFLW captain, is the primary participant to succeed in the required 60 AFLW video games to earn life membership.
Inaugural Doig Medal winner, former captain and former board member Peter Mann, and the membership’s long-serving boxing health coach Gary ‘Springer’ Ingraham have been additionally awarded life memberships.
John Garland was awarded the Con Regan Medal for his work as a part of the AJ Diamond Club.
Rob Gibbons, Seamus Rafferty and Mark Liszukiewicz have been introduced with excellent service awards.
DOIG MEDAL TOP 10
Caleb Serong – 222
Andrew Brayshaw – 179
Luke Ryan – 167
Luke Jackson – 158
Hayden Young – 140
Lachie Schultz, Sam Switkowski – 139
Alex Pearce – 134
Brennan Cox – 117
Michael Frederick – 112
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
