CONNOR ROZEE has sealed a breakout year by winning the John Cahill Medal as Port Adelaide’s 2022 AFL Best and Fairest.

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.

Rozee only took the lead from Boak after polling nine votes in the Round 13 loss to Richmond and edged away from that point to claim his first John Cahill Medal at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

He was remarkably consistent after a slow start, polling votes in all but the first two of the club’s 22 games.

The John Cahill Medal win caps a strong season where Rozee earned his first All-Australian blazer after a move from the forward line into the midfield.

“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.”

Rozee thanked the volunteers and staff at the club while he also credited coaches, teammates as well as club supporters and his family.

Rozee also claimed the Coaches’ Award as the most improved player.

Runner-up 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 and Aliir Aliir claimed the Bruce Weber Memorial Award for this third-place finish in the best and fairest voting.

In the other AFL award categories, second-year backman Lachie Jones claimed the Gavin Wanganeen Award as the best player under 21.

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.

Captain Cam Sutcliffe was named the club’s SANFL Best and Fairest, taking home the A.R. McLean Medal, while the inaugural AFLW Best and Fairest was won by Hannah Ewings.

John Cahill Medal Top 10 Leaderboard

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