Kirk–Ward Medal
| Kirk–Ward Medal | |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | The best player on the ground in Sydney Derby Australian rules football matches |
| Location | Sydney, Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Presented by | AFL |
| First award | 2012 |
| Final award | 2026 |
| Currently held by | Nick Blakey (Sydney) |
The Kirk–Ward Medal, formerly known as the Brett Kirk Medal,[1] is awarded to the player deemed to be the best player on the ground after the Sydney Derby, contested between Greater Western Sydney and Sydney. It is named after Sydney AFL premiership player Brett Kirk—born and raised in country New South Wales and played junior football for North Albury—, and inaugural GWS Giants player Callan Ward—the club's first Kevin Sheedy Medal in 2012 and co-captain between 2012 and 2019.[2]
The medal is not awarded if the two teams meet in a final, as has been the case four times. There was a draw for the medal in the 13th installment of the rivalry in 2017, with Lance Franklin and Callan Ward sharing the medal. Ward (XIII) and Franklin (XX)[3] are the only players to win the medal in losing teams.
Winners
- Players highlighted in green are current players for either club.
| Year | Match | Medalist | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | I | Josh Kennedy |  Sydney |
| II | Kieren Jack | Sydney | |
| 2013 | III | Kieren Jack (2) | Sydney |
| IV | Nick Malceski | Sydney | |
| 2014 | V | Callan Ward |  GWS |
| VI | Kieren Jack (3) | Sydney | |
| 2015 | VII | Dan Hannebery | Sydney |
| VIII | Josh Kennedy (2) | Sydney | |
| 2016 | IX | Luke Parker | Sydney |
| X | Heath Shaw | GWS | |
| 2017 | XII | Shane Mumford | GWS |
| XIII | Lance Franklin | Sydney | |
| Callan Ward (2) | GWS | ||
| 2018 | XIV | Callum Mills | Sydney |
| XV | Lance Franklin (2) | Sydney | |
| 2019 | XVII | Tim Taranto | GWS |
| XVIII | Jacob Hopper | GWS | |
| 2020 | XIX | Luke Parker (2) | Sydney |
| 2021 | XX | Lance Franklin (3) | Sydney |
| XXI | Luke Parker (3) | Sydney | |
| 2022 | XXIII | Luke Parker (4) | Sydney |
| XXIV | Luke Parker (5) | Sydney | |
| 2023 | XXV | Toby Greene | GWS |
| XXVI | Errol Gulden | Sydney | |
| 2024 | XXVII | Errol Gulden (2) | Sydney |
| XXVIII | Errol Gulden (3) | Sydney | |
| 2025 | XXX | Chad Warner | Sydney |
| XXXI | Finn Callaghan | GWS | |
| 2026 | XXXII | Nick Blakey | Sydney |
| XXXIII | Errol Gulden (4) | Sydney |
NOTE: No medal was awarded in Sydney Derby XI, Sydney Derby XVI, Sydney Derby XXII or Sydney Derby XXIX due to those matches being finals matches.
Most wins
| Number | Player | Team | Medals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Luke Parker | Sydney |
IX (2016) XIX (2020) XXI (2021) XXII, XXIV (2022) |
| 4 | Errol Gulden | Sydney |
XXVI (2023) XXVII, XXVIII (2024) XXXIII (2026) |
| 3 | Lance Franklin | Sydney |
XIII (2017) XV (2018) XX (2021) |
| 3 | Kieran Jack | Sydney |
II (2012) III (2013) VI (2014) |
| 2 | Josh Kennedy | Sydney |
I (2012) VII (2015) |
| 2 | Callan Ward | GWS |
V (2014) XIII (2017) |
See also
References
- ↑ "Callan Ward joins Brett Kirk as namesake of Sydney Derby Best on Ground Medal". afl.com.au. 16 April 2026. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
- ↑ Patterson, Emily (16 April 2026). "Giants great honoured in renamed Sydney Derby medal". AFL.com.au.
- ↑ "Franklin wins third Brett Kirk Medal". sydneyswans.com.au. 17 April 2021.