CONNOR ROZEE and Hannah Ewings have taken home Port Adelaide’s AFL and AFLW Best and Fairest awards at the club’s 2022 awards night.

In front of nearly 1000 people at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Monday night, Cam Sutcliffe was awarded the A.R. McLean Medal as the Best and Fairest player in the club’s SANFL side.

By winning the John Cahill Medal as Port Adelaide’s 2022 AFL Best and Fairest, Rozee capped a career-best season, in which he earned his first All-Australian blazer after a move from the forward line into the midfield.

The 22-year-old polled 132 votes to finish 30 votes clear of runner-up Travis Boak, and 32 ahead of third-placed Dan Houston.

“To the football club, the recruiting staff and Ken for picking me up. It’s pretty special I got to stay home in South Australia with my family and friends,” Rozee said in a brief acceptance speech.

“There’s only two clubs in South Australia so the odds were pretty slim but as I’ve grown as a person I’ve been fortunate to be able to stay around my family and friends.

“To the entire football club - it takes a lot of people to run a football club, not only in the football department but also those who do work behind the scenes. Thank you.”

Ewings finished five votes clear of captain Erin Phillips and six ahead of third-placed Abbey Dowrick to claim the club’s inaugural AFLW Best and Fairest Award.

The 18-year-old’s win capped a break-out debut season in which she collected a Rising Star nomination and became the first AFLW player to register nine or more clearances and three or more goals in a single game.

The Whyalla product was selected as South Australia’s number one pick at this year’s AFLW Draft and has gone from strength to strength with her game play and preparation.

“Woah! I was not expecting that,” the teenager said after being called to the stage.

“It’s been an amazing journey so far. To Port Adelaide thank you for giving me the opportunity to pursue my childhood dream and I’ll never take it for granted.

“To all the girls out here, you welcomed me with open arms and made me believe in myself so thank you.”

Ewings paid special tribute to her parents who would take time off work and make several eight-hour return trips to Whyalla to support her aspirations.

Sutcliffe missed two games with injury early in the season but polled votes in all 16 games he played in to claim his first A.R. McLean Medal.

The club’s SANFL captain finished eight votes clear of midfielder Sam Mayes and 23 ahead of Nick Moore.

The 30-year-old paid special tribute to outgoing coach Matthew Lokan for his tireless efforts.

“It’s a really difficult thing to coach the Magpies, especially when Lokes had a lot going on with the AFL side as well but I really appreciate his efforts and think he deserves a round of applause,” Sutcliffe said.

“I’d also like to thank the volunteers at the club. You guys go unrewarded throughout the year but we really appreciate all you do for us.

“To the entire Port Adelaide Football Club, I know I also work there day to day, thank you for giving me the opportunity to come back from Fremantle and to be able to play for such a great club.

“I really appreciate being a part of it.”

In the other awards, Rozee also claimed the Coaches’ Award as the most improved AFL player while Boak took home the Fos Williams Medal as the best team man as voted by his teammates for the fourth year in a row and a record seventh time overall.

The John McCarthy Medal for work in the community also went to Sam Mayes for his work initiating and running an inclusive football program for children with disabilities.

Ewings also took home the best AFLW first year player, while Ella Boag was the AFLW most improved.

Nick Moore won the Anthony Williams Memorial Trophy as the best SANFL contracted player.

	PLAYERS	TOTAL
1	ROZEE	132
2	BOAK	102
3	HOUSTON	100
4	WINES	93
5	POWELL-PEPPER	91
6	MARSHALL	84
7	BUTTERS	83
8	AMON	82
9	BURTON	80
10	FINLAYSON	77

 

AFL award winners

John Cahill Medal (best and fairest)
Connor Rozee

Runner up
Travis Boak

Bruce Weber Memorial Award (second runner up)
Dan Houston

Fos Williams Medal (best team man) 
Travis Boak

Gavin Wanganeen Award (best player under 21) 
Lachie Jones

Coaches’ Award (most improved) 
Connor Rozee

John McCarthy Award (for community service) 
Sam Mayes

AFLW Best and Fairest Top 10 Leaderboard

	PLAYERS	TOTAL
1	EWINGS	86
2	PHILLIPS	81
3	DOWRICK	80
4	FOLEY	79
5	MOLONEY	77
6	O'DEA	74
7	YORSTON	71
8	TAHAU	70
9	SURMAN	68
10	BALLARD	63

 

AFLW AWARD WINNERS

Best and Fairest
Hannah Ewings

Best and Fairest – Runner-Up
Erin Phillips

Best and Fairest – Third Place
Abbey Dowrick

Best First Year Player
Hannah Ewings

Most Improved
Ella Boag

Players’ Player
Ebony O’Dea

A. R. McLean Medal Top 10 Leaderboard

	PLAYERS	TOTAL
1	SUTCLIFFE	128
2	MAYES	120
3	MOORE	105
4	SCHOFIELD	100
5	LORD	98
6	VISENTINI	84
7	WILLIAMS	81
8	SKINNER	71
9	FREDERICK	69
	MEAD	69
10	J. BURGOYNE	68

 

SANFL AWARD WINNERS

A.R. McLean Medal (best & fairest) 
Cam Sutcliffe

A.R. McLean Medal runner-up
Sam Mayes

Anthony Williams Memorial Trophy (SANFL contracted player of the year)
Nick Moore

Leading goalkicker
Dylan Williams (20 goals)

Bob Clayton Award
Alf Trebilcock