DARCY BYRNE-JONES has capped an incredible season by winning the John Cahill Medal at Port Adelaide’s 2020 Best and Fairest event.

The 25-year-old polled 159 votes to finish 23 clear of runner up Travis Boak, and 30 ahead of third-placed Tom Jonas.

Byrne-Jones took the lead after polling ten votes in the Round 4 in over West Coast and led the count from that point to claim his first John Cahill Medal at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

He polled in 18 of the side’s 19 games including two best on ground performances, showing remarkable consistency during the campaign.

That consistency off half back earned him his first All-Australian blazer in 2020 although he polled just two votes in last week’s Brownlow Medal count.

Byrne-Jones said winning the John Cahill Medal had come as a surprise, just as landing at Port Adelaide at pick 52 in the 2013 National Draft had.

“I was a bit rattled to be honest because I honestly didn’t think I’d get drafted so for Port Adelaide to pick me was a big honour,” he said to the 500-strong audience at a smaller event than usual due to the impacts of COVID-19.

“I didn’t come into tonight thinking I would win this. I thought Boaky would have been a runaway winner.

“It’s been a good journey so far and I’m really grateful for the position I’m in and where the club is right now – we’ve come a long way since when I started here.

“It’s been a weird year obviously with COVID but coming into the club has been the highlight of my day.

“It’s a great honour to win this award. The guys who’ve gone before me to win it makes it such a prestigious award and I’m honoured to be up there with them.”

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

Runner-up Boak took home the Fos Williams Medal as the best team man as voted by his teammates for the second year in a row and a record fifth time overall.

In the other AFL award categories, second-year forward Zak Butters claimed the Gavin Wanganeen Award as the best player under 21 and Trent McKenzie took home the Coaches’ Award as most improved after his equal fifth-placed finish with vice-captain Ollie Wines in the overall count.

The John McCarthy Medal for work in the community went to retiring veteran Justin Westhoff for his ongoing work supporting people experiencing homelessness – his second win in that category after taking home the award in 2018.

Other AFL award winners

Fos Williams Medal (best team man) 
Travis Boak

Gavin Wanganeen Award (best player under 21) 
Zak Butters

Coaches’ Award (most improved) 
Trent McKenzie

John McCarthy Award (for community service) 
Justin Westhoff

Best Finals Player
Ollie Wines