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] 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 .
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
a b 1916 and 1917 VFL seasons due to World War I .
General Specific
^ "Crichton Medal Honour Roll" . 23 September 2017.^ "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 .^ Chreny, Daniel (11 October 2014). "Essendon's Dustin Fletcher decides to play on in 2015" . The Age Fairfax Media . Retrieved 11 August 2016 . ^ "Jason Johnson Claims W.S.Crichton Medal" . EssendonFC.com.au . Bigpond . 3 October 2001. Retrieved 11 August 2016 .^ Connolly, Rohan (3 October 2002). "Essendon's other Johnson takes honours" . The Age Fairfax Media . Retrieved 11 August 2016 . ^ Johnson, Len (2 October 2003). "Hird and Lucas share medal" . The Age Fairfax Media . Retrieved 11 August 2016 . ^ "Magnificent McPhee" . EssendonFC.com.au . Bigpond . 29 September 2005. Retrieved 11 August 2016 .^ "ohnson among Essendon elite" . EssendonFC.com.au . Bigpond . 29 September 2005. Retrieved 11 August 2016 .^ "Lucas wins second Crichton Medal" . ABC Online . Australian Associated Press . 14 September 2006. Retrieved 11 August 2016 .^ 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 ^ Robinson, Mark (2 October 2008). "David Hille wins Crichton Medal as Essendon's best player" . Herald Sun News Corp Australia . Retrieved 11 August 2016 . ^ Williams, Rebecca (1 October 2009). "Jobe Watson wins 2009 Essendon best-and-fairest award" . Herald Sun News Corp Australia . Retrieved 11 August 2016 . ^ 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 . ^ Pierik, Jon (8 October 2011). "Zaharakis wins medal" . The Age Fairfax Media . Retrieved 11 August 2016 . ^ 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 . ^ 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 . ^ Phelan, Jennifer (1 October 2014). "Heppell's rise continues with dominant Essendon best and fairest victory" . AFL.com.au . Bigpond . Retrieved 11 August 2016 . ^ 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 . ^ Twomey, Callum (31 August 2016). "Young gun Don a runaway winner at Crichton Medal" . AFL.com.au . Bigpond . Retrieved 31 August 2016 . ^ Walsh, Conor (5 October 2017). "Don's dynasty: Leaping Bomber wins first Crichton" . afl.com.au . Retrieved 5 October 2017 . ^ Twomey, Callum (4 October 2018). "Dons' instant hit wins first Crichton Medal" . afl.com.au . Retrieved 5 October 2018 . ^ Walsh, Conor (1 October 2017). "Merrett wins second Crichton Medal" . essendonfc.com.au . Retrieved 5 October 2017 . ^ "Ridley wins 2020 Crichton Medal" . essendonfc.com.au . 20 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020 .^ "Merrett joins three-time club" . essendonfc.com.au . 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021 .^ "Merrett wins fourth Crichton Medal" . 5 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023 .^ "High-five: Merrett joins club greats after claiming fifth Crichton Medal" . 3 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024 .
