Best and Fairest

The Best and Fairest Award is presented at the end of the year to the best Richmond player for that season. It is voted on by the coach, and or assistant coaches.
The Richmond Best and Fairest Awards has had several name changes in its history and is currently known as the Jack Dyer Medal.


Before I present the list down the page, it is worth understanding the following. The list of Best and Fairest winners on this page is not endorsed by the Richmond Football Club, or the Richmond Football Club Museum.
It is a list created by historian Trevor Ruddell and also endorsed by myself, Rhett Bartlett.
We both agree that the current list which appears on AFL and Richmond websites is incorrect and should be altered.
In 1988, the Best and Fairest list was updated in the Annual Report with additional winners from the 1910's - 1930's. We are both yet to substantiate any of those inclusions, and as such, we have removed those names from the list. This results in several important changes to the Richmond Best and Fairest history, notable affecting Hall of Fame members Vic Thorp , Jack Dyer , Dan Minogue, Barney Herbert.


As a result of the research, it is both the opinion of Trevor Ruddell and myself, that the following names are removed from the Best and Fairest List, due to a lack of evidence.
Should anyone have evidence which can link any of these below players to the Richmond Football Club, please contact me at rhettrospective@hotmail.com

1911 Bill Mahoney (No evidence. A journalist comment in 1934 said 'Mahoney' was the best of the 1911 season', however no Richmond Minutes, or newspaper confirm this as official.)
1913 Charlie Ricketts (No evidence. Won only a 'training prize' in 1913.)
1914 Sid Reeves (No evidence. Won only a 'training prize' in 1914.)
1916 Arthur Bettles (No evidence. Won only a 'training prize' in 1916.)
1917 Vic Thorp (No evidence. Won only a 'training prize' in 1917.)
1918 Barney Herbert (No evidence. Won only a 'training prize' in 1918)
1919 Barney Herbert (No evidence. Won only a 'training prize' in 1919)
1920 Dan Minogue (No evidence. Won only a 'training prize' in 1920.)
1922 Mel Morris (No evidence. Won only a 'training prize' in 1922.)
1923 Hugh James (No evidence. Won only a 'training prize' in 1923.)
1924 Vic Thorp (No evidence. Thorp did win the 1924 Globe and National Theatres Cup for 'most popular player'.)
1932 Jack Dyer (No evidence. Dyer did win the 1932 Hoyts Cinema Theatre Cup for 'most popular player'.)
1933 Maurie Hunter (No evidence. Hunter did win the 1933 Hoyts Cinema Theatre Cup for 'most popular player'.)

• Jack Dyer - 5 times (1937-38-39-40, 1946) (nb: the 1932 has been removed from Dyer's list as no evidence can be found of him winning it)
• Kevin Bartlett - 5 times (1967-68, 1973-74, 1977)
• Roy Wright - 4 times (1951 (tied), 1952, 1954, 1957)
• Wayne Campbell - 4 times (1995, 1997, 1999, 2002)

Below, is the Best and Fairest List, researched by Trevor Ruddell and endorsed by myself as the most accurate.

1908-1917
No Best and Fairest Award given.

1918

• Percy Maybury ('Consistent Play' - The Frank Tudor Trophy, voted on by Richmond captain Charlie Ricketts. )

1919
No Best and Fairest Award given.

1920
No Best and Fairest Award given.

1921

• Hughie James ('Best Player'- Trophy donated by Committeeman Oscar Mitchell.)

1922-1924
No Best and Fairest Award given.

1925

• Tom O'Halloran (Best All-round- Medal donated by Mrs Miller)

1926

• Allan Geddes (Best All-round - Trophy donated by Committeeman Oscar Mitchell)

1927

• Basil McCormack (Best and Fairest- Trophy donated by W Mackerra)

1928

• Basil McCormack (Best and Fairest- Suit provided by E. Monsbourgh)

1929

• Jack Titus (Best and Fairest- Trophy dontated by VFA player 'Mallee' Johnson)

1930-1933
No Best and Fairest Award given.

1934

• Ray Martin (Best Player- Lounge suit, donated as the Beckerley Trophy.

1935

• Ray Martin (Best and Fairest- Crystal Water set, donated by Joe Fleming)

1936

• Martin Bolger

1937

• Jack Dyer(Best and Fairest- the J.H Jones Trophy)

1938

• Jack Dyer (Best and Fairest - the Lou Robert's Trophy)

1939

• Jack Dyer (Best and Fairest- the J H Jones trophy)

1940

• Jack Dyer - the J.H Jones trophy

1941

• Jack Titus - the J.H Jones trophy / name also inscribed on the Vic Thorp Memorial Shield

1942

• Leo Merrett - the J.H Jones trophy / name also inscribed on the Vic Thorp Memorial Shield

1943

• Ron Durham - the J.H Jones trophy / name also inscribed on the Vic Thorp Memorial Shield

1944

• Leo Merrett -the J.H Jones trophy / name also inscribed on the Vic Thorp Memorial Shield

1945

• Bill Morris - the J.H Jones trophy / name also inscribed on the Vic Thorp Memorial Shield

1946

• Jack Dyer - the J.H Jones trophy / name also inscribed on the Vic Thorp Memorial Shield

1947

• Bill Wilson - the J.H Jones trophy / name also inscribed on the Vic Thorp Memorial Shield

1948

• Bill Morris - the J.H Jones trophy / name also inscribed on the Vic Thorp Memorial Shield

1949

• Geoff Spring - the J.H Jones trophy / name also inscribed on the Vic Thorp Memorial Shield

1950

• Bill Morris - the J.H Jones trophy / name also inscribed on the Vic Thorp Memorial Shield

1951

• Des Rowe - the J.H Jones trophy / name also inscribed on the Vic Thorp Memorial Shield
• Roy Wright - the Arthur Hunt trophy / name also inscribed on the Vic Thorp Memorial Shield

1952

• Roy Wright - the J.H Jones trophy / name also inscribed on the Vic Thorp Memorial Shield

1953

• Havel Rowe - the J.H Jones trophy / name also inscribed on the Vic Thorp Memorial Shield

1954

• Roy Wright - the J.H Jones trophy / name also inscribed on the Vic Thorp Memorial Shield

1955

• Des Rowe - Eli Phillips and Merchants Pty Ltd trophy / name inscribed on Harry Dyke honour board.

1956

• Laurie Sharp - club trophy / name inscribed on Harry Dyke honour board.

1957

• Roy Wright - name inscribed on Harry Dyke honour board.

1958

• Dave Cuzens - name inscribed on Harry Dyke honour board.

1959

• Dave Cuzens - name inscribed on Harry Dyke honour board.

1960

• Ron Branton - name inscribed on Harry Dyke honour board.

1961

• Ron Branton - name inscribed on Harry Dyke honour board.

1962

• Ron Branton - name inscribed on Harry Dyke honour board.

1963

• Neville Crowe - name inscribed on Harry Dyke honour board.

1964

• Neville Crowe- Jack Dyer trophy

1965

• Bill Barrot - Jack Dyer trophy

1966

• Neville Crowe - Jack Dyer trophy

1967

• Kevin Bartlett - Jack Dyer trophy

1968

• Kevin Bartlett - Jack Dyer Trophy

1969

• Royce Hart - Jack Dyer Trophy

1970

• Francis Bourke - Jack Dyer Trophy

1971

• Ian Stewart - Jack Dyer Medal

1972

• Royce Hart - Jack Dyer Medal

1973

• Kevin Bartlett - Jack Dyer Medal

1974

• Kevin Bartlett - Jack Dyer Medal

1975

• Kevin Morris - Jack Dyer Medal

1976

• Kevin Sheedy - Jack Dyer Medal

1977

• Kevin Bartlett - Jack Dyer Medal

1978

• Geoff Raines - - Jack Dyer Medal

1979

• Barry Rowlings - Jack Dyer Medal

1980

• Geoff Raines - Jack Dyer Medal

1981

• Geoff Raines - Jack Dyer Medal

1982

• Maurice Rioli - Jack Dyer Medal

1983

• Maurice Rioli - Jack Dyer Medal

1984

• Mark Lee - Jack Dyer Medal

1985

• Trevor Poole - Jack Dyer Medal

1986

• Dale Weightman - Jack Dyer Medal

1987

• Dale Weightman - Jack Dyer Medal

1988

• Michael Pickering - Jack Dyer Medal

1989

• Tony Free - Jack Dyer Medal

1990

• Matthew Knights - Jack Dyer Medal

1991

• Craig Lambert - Jack Dyer Medal

1992

• Matthew Knights - Jack Dyer Medal

1993

• Tony Free - Jack Dyer Medal

1994

• Chris Bond - Jack Dyer Medal

1995

• Wayne Campbell - Jack Dyer Medal

1996

• Paul Broderick - Jack Dyer Medal

1997

• Wayne Campbell - Jack Dyer Medal

1998

• Nick Daffy - Jack Dyer Medal

1999

• Wayne Campbell - Jack Dyer Medal

2000

• Andrew Kellaway - Jack Dyer Medal

2001

• Darren Gaspar - Jack Dyer Medal

2002

• Wayne Campbell - Jack Dyer Medal

2003

• Mark Coughlan - Jack Dyer Medal

2004

• Joel Bowden - Jack Dyer Medal

2005

• Joel Bowden - Jack Dyer Medal

2006

• Kane Johnson - Jack Dyer Medal

2007

• Matthew Richardson - Jack Dyer Medal

2008

• Brett Deledio - Jack Dyer Medal

2009

• Brett Deledio - Jack Dyer Medal