Colledge rewarded with Butcher MedalWednesday, October 17, 2018 - 4:00 PM - by Chris Pike

THE most consistent season of his career has led to Brant Colledge claiming the Butcher Medal for 2018 as Perth's fairest and best winner with his body allowing the former West Coast Eagle to show what he's fully capable.

Colledge has always looked a tremendously capable footballer at both the AFL and WAFL level when his body has allowed him to be fully fit, but unfortunately for him that hasn’t been the case often enough.

But it did happen for longer than at any other point in his career during 2018 and the result was the best and most consistent season of his career with the Demons.

Colledge started the season playing largely across half-forward, but as his fitness, form and confidence grew the longer the season went on, the more time he spent in the midfield in an area that became a real strength of the resurgent Perth in 2018.

Playing in a midfield unit that included Clint Jones, Corey Yeo, Cody Leggett and the emerging Corey Byrne, Colledge put together a tremendous run of form finishing the season averaging 26.4 disposals across his 17 matches while also kicking 13 goals.

He had six games along the way where he collected 30 or more possessions and with his big body and ability to win contested ball and use it well, he became a key part of the Demons' line-up that threatened to break their finals drought in 2018.

Colledge ended up being rewarded by winning the Butcher Medal as the Perth fairest and best winner in a season where he was also named to the WAFL Team of the Year on a half-forward flank.

Captain and last year's Butcher Medallist Clint Jones was runner-up in this year's vote count in recognition of yet another outstanding season. Jones racked up another 28.6 possessions a game in 2018 including eight times reaching 30 or more.

Having played 149 games in the AFL either side of his time in the WAFL firstly at South Fremantle and now Perth, he continues to be a standout midfielder in the competition with 141 games under his belt between the Bulldogs and Demons.

Corey Yeo finished third in fairest and best voting with the former Claremont on-baller a tremendous addition for the Demons averaging 25.1 disposals and playing all 18 matches.

Colledge won the Butcher Medal by polling 101 votes to win ahead of Jones (100), Yeo (98), Clayton Giblett (91), Corey Byrne (88), Kristian Cary (86), Cody Leggett (85) and John Levien (80).

Kristian Cary won the Redlegs One Percenter Award along with being joint leading goalkicker with he and Cody Ninyette both kicking 28 goals for the 2018 season.

Christian Eyres was named Best Clubman while Simon Jenkins took out the Club Person of the Year award.

Sydney Stack was named the Most Outstanding Young Talent while also winning the Jack Ensor Medal as the colts fairest and best ahead of Connor Sing.

Kurtis Chester won the Greg Brehaut Medal as reserves fairest and best winner ahead of Callum Marshall. 

LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS
Butcher Medal (Fairest and Best): Brant Colledge
Runner-up: Clint Jones
Third place: Corey Yeo
Redlegs One Percenter Award: Kristian Cary
Ron Tucker Memorial Trophy (Leading Goalkicker): Cody Ninyette, Kristian Cary (28 goals)
Doug Buckingham Memorial Trophy (Most Outstanding Young Talent): Sydney Stack

RESERVES AWARD WINNERS
Greg Brehaut Medal (Fairest and Best): Kurtis Chester
Runner-up: Callum Marshall
Redlegs One Percenter Award: Fraser Barns
Coaches Award: Braden Piggott
 
COLTS AWARD WINNERS
Jack Ensor Medal (Fairest and Best): Sydney Stack
Runner-up: Connor Sing
Past Players & Officials Association Encouragement Award: Ryan Mally
Spirit of Colts Award: Lachlan Fraser

OTHER AWARD WINNERS
Vince Pendal Award (Best Clubman): Christian Eyres
Jack O'Dea Memorial Trophy (Club Person of the Year): Simon Jenkins