It’s the Port Adelaide Football Club’s night of nights, as it recognises the standout contribution of its best and fairest player as well as other significant performers at the club.
The key merit of the night is, of course, the John Cahill Medal, named for the club’s 10-time SANFL premiership coach, former captain and best and fairest and inaugural AFL coach, John Cahill.
It has been won four times by two of the club’s greatest players. 2004 premiership captain and multiple leading goal kicker Warren Tredrea won his in 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2009, while current games-record holder Kane Cornes achieved his in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012.
To win the medal is to be recognised alongside them and other club heroes. Names like Darren Mead, Adam Kingsley and Stephen Paxman who helped establish the club during its AFL infancy, fan favourites like Brett Montgomery, ex-captains Matthew Primus and Gavin Wanganeen and the big-hearted Brendon Lade, as well as modern guns like Travis Boak and Jackson Trengove, have worn the medal during their careers.
Previously votes for the medal were allocated by the coaches on a joint-ballot. Players could be awarded between nil and three votes for their performance in any game.
That voting structure has changed this year.
2013 senior coach Ken Hinkley, director of coaching and strategy Alan Richardson and line coaches Garry Hocking, Matthew Nicks and Shaun Rehn each voted for their top players after every game.
Players can be allocated up to five votes for their performance and there is no limit on the number of players who can be voted for.
This means a player could receive a maximum of 25 votes in one game and a minimum of none.
A number of other awards will be presented, in addition to the John Cahill Medal. They include:
- The Fos Williams Medal. Awarded by the playing group to the player who displays leadership, selflessness, professionalism, courage and loyalty.
- The John McCarthy Medal. Awarded by the coaches for outstanding community service and contribution outside of the club.
- The Renault Supporters’ Player of the Year award. Awarded by the supporters who vote on a 3-2-1 basis on portadelaidefc.com.au after every minor round.
- The Coaches' Award. Awarded by the coaches to the player who best upholds the team values of 'competitive', 'trust' and 'selflessness'.
- The Volunteers Award. Awarded to one of the club’s volunteer staff in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the club.
A number of players are in contention for all of these awards, with Travis Boak and Chad Wingard rated most likely to take home the main gong at the end of the night.
portadelaidefc.com.au will have ongoing coverage of the 2013 John Cahill Medal, including profiles of all the winners and round-by-round voting.
Previous winners
John Cahill Medal (established 1997)
1997 - Darren Mead
1998 - Adam Kingsley
1999 - Stephen Paxman
2000 - Brett Montgomery
2001 - Warren Tredrea
2002 - Matthew Primus
2003 - Gavin Wanganeen
2004 - Warren Tredrea
2005 - Warren Tredrea
2006 - Brendon Lade
2007 - Kane Cornes
2008 - Kane Cornes
2009 - Warren Tredrea
2010 - Kane Cornes
2011 - Travis Boak and Jackson Trengove
2012 - Kane Cornes
Fos Williams Medal (established 1997)
1997 - Brayden Lyle
1998 - Brayden Lyle
1999 - Josh Francou
2000 - Matthew Primus
2001 - Matthew Primus
2002 - Josh Carr
2003 - Josh Carr
2004 - Michael Wilson
2005 - Darryl Wakelin
2006 - Brendon Lade
2007 - Troy Chaplin
2008 - Dom Cassisi
2009 - Dom Cassisi
2010 - Dom Cassisi
2011 - Dom Cassisi
2012 - Brad Ebert
Coaches' Award (established 2011)
2011 - Tom Logan
2012 - Tom Jonas
Gavin Wanganeen Medal (established 2006)
2006 - Danyle Pearce
2007 - Justin Westhoff
2008 - Alipate Carlile
2009 - Travis Boak
2010 - Jackson Trengove
2011 - Hamish Hartlett
2012 - Chad Wingard
*The John McCarthy Award and Renault Supporters' Player of the Year Award are introduced in 2013.
