PLAYERS, partners, coaches, staff and supporters will pour into the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Saturday night to crown its best and fairest players for the 2015 season, with the John Cahill Medal and A.R. McLean Medal being presented jointly for the first time.

Along with the club champion awards, a range of other merits will be presented to those who are deemed to have excelled in each individual field.

Many of the awards are named after significant clubmen too, so get up to speed with portadelaidefc.com.au's guide to the gongs...  

John Cahill Medal

Named after: John Cahill – Port Adelaide’s first AFL coach and a man who coached and played in 14 SANFL premierships with the club between his debut in 1958 and the club’s step into the national competition in 1996.

Awarded to the best performing Port Adelaide AFL player. All Port Adelaide coaches, including Ken Hinkley, Michael Voss, Matthew Nicks, Tyson Edwards, Shaun Hart and Josh Carr – voted on their top players on a 0-5 basis for each game. This means a player can be awarded a maximum of 30 and a minimum of zero votes for a match.

Previous Winners: Darren Mead (1997), Adam Kingsley (1998), Stephen Paxman (1999), Brett Montgomery (2000), Matthew Primus (2001), Warren Tredrea 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009), Gavin Wanganeen (2003), Brendon Lade (2006), Kane Cornes (2007, 2008, 2010, 2012), Travis Boak and Jackson Trengove (2011 joint winners), Chad Wingard (2013), Robbie Gray (2014).

Fos Williams Medal

Named after: Foster Williams – Port Adelaide’s defining coach, who first joined the club for the 1950 season and would build a remarkable golden age of the club in the SANFL. Under his watch, the club won nine flags and he is widely credited with establishing the perpetual values of the club, penning the famous ‘Creed of the Port Adelaide Football Club’ and coining its eternal mantra ‘We Exist to Win Premierships’

Awarded to the club’s best team man as voted by the players. All of the club’s players vote for three teammates on a 3-2-1 basis who best represent the team’s values throughout the season – both on and off the field.

Previous Winners: Brayden Lyle (1997, 1998), Josh Francou (1999), Matthew Primus (2000, 2001), Josh Carr (2002, 2003), Michael Wilson (2004), Darryl Wakelin (2005), Brendon Lade (2006), Troy Chaplin (2007), Dom Cassisi (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011), Brad Ebert (2012), Travis Boak (2013, 2014).

Coaches' Award

Awarded in 2015 to the player who is deemed to be the most improved by the coaches.

Previous Winners: [as Most Improved Award] Warren Tredrea (1998, 1999), Roger James (2000), Josh Carr (2001), Chad Cornes (2002), Dean Brogan (2003), Kane Cornes (2004), Dom Cassisi (2005), Shaun Burgoyne (2006), David Rodan (2007), Travis Boak (2008), Robbie Gray (2009), Paul Stewart (2010); (as coaches award) Tom Logan (2011), Tom Jonas (2012), Justin Westhoff (2013), Matthew Lobbe (2014)

Gavin Wanganeen Medal

Named after: Gavin Wanganeen – one of Port Adelaide’s youngest ever debutants in the SANFL, and certainly one of its youngest premiership players (in 1990), Wanganeen was drafted to Essendon where he played in the Dons’ 1993 flag and won the Brownlow Medal. He returned home to Port Adelaide for its first AFL season as captain in 1997, and was a John Cahill Medallist (2003) and premiership player (2004).

Awarded to the best performing Port Adelaide AFL player under the age of 21 years.

Previous Winners: Danyle Pearce (2006), Justin Westhoff (2007), Alipate Carlile (2008), Travis Boak (2009), Jackson Trengove (2010), Hamish Hartlett (2011), Chad Wingard (2012), Ollie Wines (2013, 2014)

John McCarthy Award

Named after: John McCarthy – played during the 2012 season with the Power but passed away following an accident on an end-of-season trip in Las Vegas, USA.

In commemoration of John McCarthy’s community work in the year he was with the club, Port Adelaide started this award to recognise a player who made an outstanding contribution to the community, external of the club’s existing programs, during the year.

Previous Winners: Jack Hombsch (2013), Brad Ebert (2014)

A.R. McLean Medal

Named after: Allan Robert Charles ‘Bob’ McLean OBE – after retiring at the end of the 1949 season, McLean served as Port Adelaide’s secretary and general manager. Was a former ruckman with the club prior to his long service in administration.

Awarded to the best performing Port Adelaide SANFL League player. All Port Adelaide SANFL coaches, including Garry Hocking, Stuart Cochrane, Jacob Surjan and Trent Hentschel – voted on their top players on a 0-5 basis for each game. This means a player can be awarded a maximum of 20 and a minimum of zero votes for a match.

Previous Winners: (Since 1986) Martin Leslie (1986), Bruce Abernethy (1987), Greg Phillips (1988), Russell Johnston (1989), Scott Hodges (1990, 1996), Paul Northeast (1991), Nathan Buckley (1992), Troy Bond (1993), Tim Ginever (1994, 1997), Robbie West (1995), Bryan Beinke (1998), Darryl Poole (1999), Phil McGuinness (2000), Ryan O’Connor (2001), Corey Ah Chee (2002), Brett Ebert (2003), Kristian DePasquale (2004), Jeremy Clayton (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012), Brad Murray (2009), Steven Summerton (2010, 2014), Mark Dolling (2011), Sam Gray (2013)

Coaches’ Trophy

Awarded by the coaches to the player who best represents the team’s values.

Previous Winners: (Since 1986) Greg Anderson (1986), Russell Johnston (1987), Stephen Williams (1988), Tim Ginever (1989), David Hutton (1990), Adrian Settre (1991), Brayden Lyle (1993), George Fiacchi (1994), Darren Mead (1995), Brian Leys (1996), Matthew Ashley (1997), Bryan Beinke (1998), Tony Bamford (1999), Alan Didak (2000), Darryl Poole (2001), Anthony Brown (2002), Craig Parry (2003), Corey Ah Chee (2004, 2005), Matthew King (2006), Shayne Biacsi (2007), Tom Carr (2008), Zane Kirkwood (2009, 2013), Josh Thurgood (2010), Jame Meiklejohn (2011), Kory Beard (2012), Brendon Ah Chee (2014)

Max Porter Memorial Trophy – League Most Consistent

Named after: Max Porter -

Awarded to the best most consistent Port Adelaide SANFL player.

Previous Winners: (introduced 1987) Phil Harrison (1987), Darren Smith (1988, 1997), Simon Tregenza (1989, 1990), George Fiacchi (1991), Roger Delaney (1992, 1993), Scott Spalding (1994), Rohan Smith (1995), Darryl Borlase (1996), Richard Ambrose (1998), Phil McGuinness (1999, 2000), Ryan O’Connor (2001), Craig Parry (2003), Corey Ah Chee (2004, 2006), Daniel Elstone (2005), Joel Perry (2007, 2008), Brad Murray (2009), Steven Summerton (2010, 2014), Mark Dolling (2011), Luke Slattery (2012), Kory Beard (2013)

Fos Williams Memorial Trophy – League Most Dedicated

Named after: Foster Williams – Port Adelaide’s defining coach, who first joined the club for the 1950 season and would build a remarkable golden age of the club in the SANFL. Under his watch, the club won nine flags and he is widely credited with establishing the perpetual values of the club, penning the famous ‘Creed of the Port Adelaide Football Club’ and coining its eternal mantra ‘We Exist to Win Premierships’

Awarded to the best most dedicated Port Adelaide SANFL player.

Previous Winners: (since 1986 as most dedicated) Craig Lum (1986), Martin Leslie (1987), Tim Ginever (1988, 1993), Darren Smith (1989), Mark Williams (1990), Gary Smallridge (1991), Darryl Borlase (1992), Stephen Williams (1994), Roger Delaney (1995), Michael Wilson (1996), Phil McGuinness (1997), Brian Leys (1998), Damien Brown (1999), Mark Clayton (2000, 2003, 2006), (Shane Holmes (2001), (since 2002 as Fos Williams Memorial Trophy) Jared Ilett (2002), Kristian DePasquale (2004, 2005, 2008), Justin Perkins (2007, 2009), Jarrod Young (2010,2012), Daniel Kulikowski (2011), Steven Summerton (2013), Ben Newton (2014)

Anthony Williams Memorial Trophy – League Most Courageous

Named after: Anthony Williams – son of Foster and brother of premiership coaches Mark and Stephen and sister Jenny, Anthony was a skilled Port footballer who passed away after a building accident in 1988. This award was minted in his memory at the end of the 1988 season.

Awarded to the best most courageous Port Adelaide SANFL player.

Previous Winners: (since 1988) Tim Ginever (1988, 1990, 1995), Stephen Williams (1989), Mark Williams (1991), Darren Smith (1992), Darryl Borlase (1993), Stephen Carter (1994), Darryl Poole (1996), Mark Clayton (1997, 1999, 2002, 2005), Alf Steed (1998, 2000, 2001), Corey Ah Chee (2003), Nigel Fiegert (2004), Kristian DePasquale (2006), Levi Greenwood (2007), Daniel Elstone (2008, 2009), Kory Beard (2010), Luke Harder (2011), Daniel Kulikowski (2012,2013), Tom Logan (2014)

Bruce Weber Memorial Trophy – Best Team Man

Named after: Anthony Williams – son of Foster and brother of premiership coaches Mark and Stephen and sister Jenny, Anthony was a skilled Port footballer who passed away after a building accident in 1988. This award was minted in his memory at the end of the 1988 season.

Awarded to the  Port Adelaide SANFL player regarded as the best performer during their debut League season.

Previous Winners: (since 1986) Martin Leslie (2986), Stephen Curtis (1987), Greg Phillips (1989, 1990), Paul Northeast (1991), Tim Ginever (1992, 1994), Stephen Williams (1994), Darren Smith (1995), Darryl Poole (1996), Darryl Borlase (1997), Danny Morgan (1998), Brian Leys (1999), Ricky O’Loughlin (2000), Corey Ah Chee (2001, 2009), Brayden Lyle (2002), Paul Evans (2003), Anthony Brown (2004, 2005), (since 2006 as Bruce Weber Memorial Trophy) Matthew Lokan (2006), Tom Carr (2007), Daniel Lees (2008), James Meiklejohn (2010), Daniel Kulikowski (2011), Jarrod Young (2012), Sam Gray (2013), Anthony Biemans (2014)

Best First Year Player

Awarded to the Port Adelaide SANFL player regarded as the best playing in his debut season.

Previous Winners: (since 1986) Geoff Phelps (1986), Andrew Obst (1987), David Brown (1988), Adrian Settre (1989), Gavin Wanganeen (1990), Nathan Buckley (1992), Julian Burton (1992), Darryl Wakelin (1994), Clive Waterhouse (1995), Nigel Fiegert (1996), Brett Higgins (1997), Paul Vines (1998), Ricky O’Loughlin (1999), Corey Ah Chee (2000), James Wilson (2001), Brett Ebert (2002), Harry Miller (2003), Shayne Biasci (2004), Ivan Maric (2005), Mark Dolling (2006), Levi Greenwood (2007), Kerren Hall (2008), Daniel Stanley (2009), Luke Carey (2010), Justin Hoskin (2011), Aseri Raikiwasa (2012), Jake Johansen (2013), Karl Amon (2014)

Also presented on Saturday night...

SANFL Leading Goalkicker Award, Bob Clayton Award, Academy best and fairest and associated Academy awards