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Star’s crazy streak rolls on after trade; fan favourite’s latest accolade — Every AFL club’s B&F
The 2026 AFL club awards season is nearly at a close, with 16 out of 18 clubs having hosted their best and fairest awards following an action-packed season.look at the award winners for each club, and when their club best and fairest nights will be held.
WHAT'S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. After a stellar season that saw him claim his third All-Australian blazer and vice-captaincy honours for the acclaimed team, Jordon Dawson won his fourth best and fairest in five years at the Crows by a comfortable margin.
His victory is an incredible reminder of his performance at West Lakes since arriving from Sydney at the end of 2021, with his first year the only time he didn’t win it — instead finishing runner-up by just four votes. There’s not many greater accolades a player can get than a best and fairest win in a premiership year, and Will Ashcroft did just that.
His maiden Merrett-Murray Medal was clinched just two votes ahead of four-time flag winner Josh Dunkley, with the departing Lachie Neale coming third. In the least surprising win across the competition, Nick Daicos claimed his second Copeland Trophy in three years to round out his Brownlow-winning 2026. Zach Merrett reached seventh heaven at the Bombers this off-season, becoming just the third player in Essendon’s long-standing history to win seven best and fairests, alongside club legends Bill Hutchison and Dick Reynolds.
Sam Durham and Archie Roberts were on the podium for a second year straight, though this time around it was Durham who finished next-best to Merrett. Luke Jackson claimed his first-ever Doig Medal after a stunning year for Fremantle, edged out reigning champion and three-time winner Caleb Serong, as well as 2022 winner and four-time runner-up Andrew Brayshaw. Another standout year for Bailey Smith saw the hard-running midfielder win his first-ever best and fairest at AFL level.
Second to him was the back-to-back club champion Max Holmes, who had Shaun Mannagh round out their podium off the back of another ultra-consistent year. After finishing runner-up in 2024, young gun Bodhi Uwland went one better this year and claimed a maiden club championship. The 23-year-old led the way for a trio of defenders to finish atop, with Sam Collins and Mac Andrew each tailing him on the podium.
Thursday September 3 A best and fairest medal for Lachie Ash seems oh so fitting after his 2026 campaign, which started with him winning the 2026 E.J Whitten Medal for his best on ground efforts in Victoria’s State of Origin win over Western Australia back in February. Unsurprisingly to many, star small forward Nick Watson capped off an incredible campaign with his first-ever AFL best and fairest.
The 21-year-old came up trumps over inside bull Jai Newcombe, while Watson’s 2026 All-Australian teammate Jarman Impey finished third. Incredibly, but in some ways unsurprisingly, Harry Sheezel became the youngest player to have won three Syd Barker Medals at North Melbourne, still aged only 21. He is four years younger than previous record-holder Wayne Carey, when he won his third medal in 1996.
Sheezel just pipped inside bull Luke Davies-Uniacke, while Jy Simpkin and Luke Parker could only just be split in third and fourth. The Power were the first of any club to host a best and fairest in 2026, which saw Jason Horne-Francis awarded the club’s champion of 2026. A late-season injury almost certainly prevented the departing Zak Butters from winning another, while key forward Mitch Georgiades rounded out the top three.
It was another tough season on-field for the Tigers in 2026, but Tim Taranto proved himself one of their few shining lights — winning the club’s best and fairest award by a comfortable margin. Isaac Heeney won his third consecutive best and fairest this off-season, having also finished ninth in the Brownlow Medal count this year. Star ruck Brodie Grundy finished second to him, while first-year Swan and 2026 Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow rounded out the top three.
Curnow wasn’t the only standout in his first year at the club, with former Hawk Jai Serong given his flowers too for a solid year — finishing fifth. Out west, Harley Reid claimed his maiden best and fairest award at AFL level, capping off a stellar third season at the top level. After playing every game in 2026, the 21-year-old comfortably beat forward Jake Waterman and veteran midfielder Tim Kelly, who finished second and third respectively.
Incredibly, SSP signing Milan Mrdock finished fourth in his first season at the club — despite also missing three games. Similar to Zach Merrett at Essendon, superstar midfielder Marcus Bontempelli has reached seventh heaven to equal the record for the most best and fairest in Western Bulldogs history. The 30-year-old won comfortably over fellow star Ed Richards, while key defender James O’Donnell was rightly recognised in third to round out the podium.
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