Jordan Dawson has capped an incredible first year as Crows captain by winning his first Malcolm Blight Medal.
The 26-year-old, who also claimed All-Australian honours for the first time in 2023, polled 132 votes to be crowned Adelaide’s Club Champion from three-time winner Rory Laird, who was runner-up with 115 votes, and fellow All-Australian Taylor Walker, who was third with 98 votes.
Dawson’s career-best season coincided with his permanent move into the midfield this year which led to him averaging 27 disposals, three clearances and six tackles a game.
He reaffirmed his reputation as a big-game performer with a second Showdown Medal in Round Three and 30-plus disposals against Collingwood (twice), Carlton in Gather Round and Brisbane.
Adelaide’s Club Champion is determined by coaches rating every player with a score from 0-10 after every game.
Runner-up Laird continued his remarkable consistency by finishing inside the top three of the Malcolm Blight Medal for the seventh consecutive season, while Walker polled a maximum of 10 votes twice on his way to finishing in third place. First-year recruit Izak Rankine and defender Mitch Hinge both polled 92 votes to round out the top five.
Walker’s season was also recognised with a seventh leading goal kicker award after the key forward booted 76 goals to finish second in the Coleman Medal, and he also claimed the Members MVP Award.
Young defender Max Michalanney received the Mark Bickley Emerging Talent Award for his impressive first season in which he played 22 games and Andrew McPherson received the Dr Brian Sando OAM Trophy for the second time in recognition of his professionalism and attention to detail in a difficult season hampered by injury.
In other honours presented on the night, Dawson received the Players Trademark Award, ruckman Reilly O’Brien was named Best Team Man and claimed the Crows Foundation Community Award, Blayne O’Loughlin won the Dean Bailey Award as Adelaide’s best development player and midfielder Jackson Hately was crowned SANFL Club Champion by polling 103 votes from Tyler Brown (98), Kieran Strachan and Sam Berry (both 91).
MALCOLM BLIGHT MEDAL TOP 10
Jordan Dawson 132
Rory Laird 115
Taylor Walker 98
Izak Rankine 92
Mitch Hinge 92
Lachlan Murphy 91
Brodie Smith 87
Chayce Jones 80
Ben Keays 80
Wayne Milera 79
