Midfielder Jack Watkins has claimed his first A.R. McLean Medal as Port Adelaide’s best and fairest player in the SANFL in 2025.
Watkins finished Tuesday evening’s count with 218 votes, while Jez McLennan came in second with 167, and Jake Weidemann in third place with 133 votes.
In his first year in black-and-white, Watkins was a standout in the Magpies’ engine room, averaging 27 disposals, 4.6 marks and 4.2 clearances from 18 games.
He was selected in the 2025 SANFL Team of the Year and was instrumental in Port Adelaide’s seven SANFL wins, with the side falling just short of a finals’ berth.
Known for his speed, running capacity and high work-rate, Watkins joined the Magpies from North Melbourne’s VFL side this year, seeking a fresh football opportunity.
The 24-year-old also represented South Australia in the state team earlier in the season, with the SANFL hosting the WAFL back in May.
“The move to South Australia to do the pre-season with the AFL boys, I really enjoyed that and learned a lot,” Watkins said upon accepting the award.
“I ended up with the Magpies boys, which was such a great environment (and) Hamish is a great coach.
“Moving over I didn’t know too much about the SANFL (but) I learned pretty quickly that they have very passionate supporters. The South Australian football culture is very strong and proud and it's a very good culture to be a part of.
“Thank you to the community at Port Adelaide…the volunteers, to the coaches, and the boys, it was a great year. Unfortunately, we didn’t end up playing finals, but we came very close. To the playing group, a very good bunch of lads. I knew every week no matter what SANFL list we had playing, they were going to crack in.”
For the second consecutive year, Weidemann was awarded the Anthony Williams Memorial Award as selected by the coaches, while long-time volunteer Dianne ‘Midge’ O’Malley won the Bob Clayton Memorial Award for service to the club.
McLennan was awarded the Max Porter Memorial Trophy as the runner-up best and fairest player after coming across from Central District ahead of the 2025 season.
A.R. McLean Medal Top 10 Leaderboard
1. Jack Watkins - 218
2. Jez McLennan - 167
3. Jake Weidemann - 133
4. Josh Lai - 129
5. Will Lorenz - 121
=6. Nick Moore - 118
=6. Shay Linke - 118
8. Dylan Williams - 117
9. Jeremy Finlayson - 116
10. Rory Atkins - 106
A.R. McLean Medal (SANFL best & fairest)
Jack Watkins
Max Porter Memorial Trophy (A.R. McLean Medal runner-up)
Jez McLennan
Anthony Williams Memorial Trophy (Coaches’ Award)
Jake Weidemann
Leading Goalkicker
Dylan Williams & Jeremy Finlayson (21 goals)
Bob Clayton Award
Dianne ‘Midge’ O’Malley
