Crichton Medal Explained

Crichton Medal
Awarded For:	The best and fairest player of the Essendon Football Club
Presenter:	Essendon Football Club
Country:	Australia
Location:	Crown Palladium Ballroom
Year:	1897
Year2:	2023
Holder:	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. 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

^	Denotes current player
+	Player won Brownlow Medal in same season

Season	Recipient(s)	class=unsortable	Ref.
	(2)
	(2)
	(2)
	(3)
	+
	(2)
	(2)
	+ (3)
	+ (4)
	(5)
	(6)
	(7)
	(2)
	(3)
	(2)
	(3)
	+ (4)
	+ (5)
	(6)
	(7)
	(2)
	(2)
	(2)
	(2)
	(3)
	(2)
	(3)
	(2)
	+ (3)
	(2)
	(3)
	(4)
	(2)
	(3)
	(4)
	(2)
	(2)
	+ (3)
		^[3]
		^[4]
		^[5]
	(4)	^[6]
		^[7]
	(2)	^[8]
	(2)	^[9]
	(5)	^[10]
		^[11]
		^[12]
	(2)	^[13]
		^[14]
	(3)	^[15]
		^[16]
	^	^[17]
		^[18]
	^	^[19]
		^[20]
		^[21]
	^ (2)	^[22]
	^	^[23]
	^ (3)	^[24]
	^
	^ (4)	^[25]

Multiple winners

^

Denotes current player

Player	Medals	Seasons
	7	1947, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956
	7	1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1942, 1943
	5	1994, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2007
	4	1977, 1979, 1983, 1984
	4	1980, 1985, 1988, 1989
^	4	2016, 2019, 2021, 2023
	3	1961, 1965, 1967
	3	1941, 1945, 1946
	3	1968, 1969, 1971
	3	1922, 1923, 1924
	3	1974, 1975, 1976
	3	2009, 2010, 2012
	2	1957, 1960
	2	1908, 1909
	2	1911, 1912
	2	1958, 1962
	2	1930, 1935
	2	1963, 1964
	2	2001, 2005
	2	2003, 2006
	2	1987, 1990

Notes

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

References

General

• Web site: The Crichton Medal – year by year. 9 September 2015. EssendonFC.com.au. Bigpond. 11 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160828195600/http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2015-09-09/the-crichton-medal-year-by-year. 28 August 2016. dead.

Specific

Notes and References

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