John Cahill Medal

John Cahill Medal
SportAustralian rules football
CompetitionAustralian Football League
Awarded forBest and fairest performance across an AFL season
LocationAlberton Oval, Adelaide
Presented byPort Adelaide Football Club
History
First award1870
Editions148
First winnerJohn Wald
Most winsRussell Ebert – 6
Most recentZak Butters

The John Cahill Medal is an Australian rules football award presented annually to the player(s) adjudged the best and fairest at the Port Adelaide Football Club throughout the Australian Football League (AFL) season. The Port Adelaide Football Club was established in 1870 and became a founding member of the South Australian Football Association (SAFA) in 1877. The club joined the AFL in 1997, and holds the unique status of being the only pre-existing non-Victorian club to have entered the AFL from another league.[1]

A best and fairest award has been awarded by the club since 1870, with the winners of the award appearing on the club's honour board.[2] Prior to the club's entry to the AFL, the award was known as the Port Adelaide Best and Fairest. After the club's entry to the AFL the award was renamed in honour of John Cahill, who coached or played in 14 premierships in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) and was the club's inaugural AFL coach.[3]

The inaugural winner of the club's best and fairest award was John Wald in 1870, and the inaugural winner of the AFL best and fairest was Darren Mead in 1997.[2] Russell Ebert has the record for most best and fairest wins, winning on six occasions in 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977 and 1981,[4] whilst Kane Cornes and Warren Tredrea hold the record for most John Cahill Medals won, both with four.[5] There have been four players to win the award three consecutive times; Thomas Smith (1877–1879), Harry Phillips (1891–1893), Robbie Gray (2014–2016) and Zak Butters (2023–2025).[6]

As of 2025, the voting system for the medal is handled by a panel of three coaching staff members. For each match, the senior coach, club's general manager, and respective line coach each award players between 0 and 5 votes based on their performances, with a maximum of 15 votes attainable.[3]. The club changed to this voting system in 2013,[7] with minor tweaks in 2019 and 2023 to adjust how many coaches award votes.[8][9] It has previously changed the best and fairest voting system in 2011 and 1997.[10][11]

Recipients

Section Legend
^ Denotes current player
+ Player won Magarey Medal in same season
# Player won Brownlow Medal in same season
✪ Player won Ken Farmer Medal in same season
(2) Repeat winner of award
Thomas Smith was the club's first multi-time winner of the best and fairest award.
Stan Malin was the first player to win a league best and fairest and club best and fairest in the same year.
A statue of Russell Ebert located outside of Adelaide Oval. Ebert holds the club record for most best and fairest awards won, with six.
Kane Cornes and Warren Tredrea both hold the record for the most John Cahill Medals won, with four.
In 2015, Robbie Gray became the first player to win three consecutive best and fairest award since Harry Phillips in 1893.
Zak Butters, winner of the 2025 John Cahill Medal
John Cahill Medal - Pre-AFL[2]
Season Best and fairest Ref
1870John Wald—
1871Fred Stone—
1872N/a—
1873Samuel Tyzack—
1874N/a—
1875Henry Ford—
1876Ernest LeMessurier—
1877Thomas Smith—
1878Thomas Smith (2)—
1879Thomas Smith (3)—
1880John Sidoli—
1881John Sidoli (2)—
1882James Munro—
1883Robert Kirkpatrick—
1884George Cairns—
Charles Kellett—
1885Michael Coffee—
1886Charlie Fry—
1887William Bushby—
Richard Walsh
1888Harry Phillips—
1889Goody Hamilton—
1890Charlie Fry (2)—
1891Harry Phillips (2)—
1892Harry Phillips (3)—
1893Walter Murray—
Harry Phillips (4)
1894Alf Miers—
1895Otway L'Estage—
1896George Linklater—
1897Ken McKenzie—
1898Archibald Hosie—
1899Stan Malin +—
1900John Quinn Sr.—
1901Ted Strawns—
1902Lewis Corston—
1903James Tompkins—
1904Lewis Corston (2)—
1905John Quinn Sr. (2)—
1906Ted Strawns (2)—
1907Jack Mack +—
1908Sinclair Dickson—
1909Sinclair Dickson (2)—
1910Sampson Hosking +—
1911Harold Oliver—
1912Harold Oliver (2)—
1913Harry Eaton—
1914Jack Ashley +—
1915Harry Eaton (2)—
1916[a]N/a—
1917[a]N/a—
1918[a]N/a—
1919Jack Ashley (2)—
1920Charlie Adams—
1921Charlie Adams + (2)—
1922Clem Dayman—
1923Les Dayman—
1924Les Dayman (2)—
1925Peter Bampton +—
1926Lawrence Hodge—
1927Clifford Keal—
1928Les Dayman (3)—
1929Ernest Mucklow—
1930Victor Johnson—
1931Maurice Allingham—
1932Ernest Mucklow (2)—
1933Jack Dermody—
1934Albert Hollingworth—
1935Jack Dermody (2)—
1936Albert Hollingworth (2)—
1937Bob Quinn—
1938Bob Quinn + (2)—
1939Allan Reval—
1940Reginald Schumann—
1941John Skelley—
1942[b]N/a—
1943[b]N/a—
1944[b]N/a—
1945Bob Quinn + (3)—
1946Lew Roberts—
1947Bob Quinn (4)—
1948Dick Russell—
1949Dick Russell (2)—
1950Fos Williams—
1951Dick Russell (3)—
1952Ray Whitaker—
1953Harold McDonald—
1954Roger Clift—
1955Fos Williams (2)—
1956Edward Whelan—
1957Neville Hayes—
1958Geof Motley—
1959Geof Motley (2)—
1960Neville Hayes (2)—
1961Jeff Potter—
1962Peter Obst—
1963Geof Motley (3)—
1964Jeff Potter (2)—
1965Geof Motley (4)—
1966John Cahill—
1967Jeff Potter (3)—
1968John Cahill (2)—
1969Jeff Potter (4)—
1970John Cahill (3)—
1971Russell Ebert +—
1972Russell Ebert (2)—
1973John Cahill (4)—
1974Russell Ebert + (3)—
1975Peter Woite +—
1976Russell Ebert + (4)—
1977Russell Ebert (5)—
1978Stephen Clifford—
1979Milan Faletic—
1980Stephen Clifford (2)—
1981Russell Ebert (6)—
1982Craig Bradley—
1983Stephen Clifford (3)—
1984Craig Bradley (2)—
1985Craig Bradley (3)—
1986Martin Leslie—
1987Bruce Abernethy—
1988Greg Phillips—
1989Russell Johnston—
1990Scott Hodges + ✪—
1991Paul Northeast—
1992Nathan Buckley +—
1993Troy Bond—
1994Tim Ginever—
1995Robbie West—
1996Scott Hodges ✪ (2)—
John Cahill Medal - AFL Era
Season Best and fairest Votes Runner Up Votes Ref
1997Darren Mead—Matthew Primus—[14]
1998Adam Kingsley—Donald Dickie—[14]
1999Stephen Paxman—Warren Tredrea—[14]
2000Brett Montgomery—Nick Stevens—[14]
2001Warren Tredrea164Josh Carr159[11]
2002Matthew Primus150Warren Tredrea (2)145[15]
2003Gavin Wanganeen224Warren Tredrea (3)201[16]
2004Warren Tredrea (2)236Kane Cornes220[17]
2005Warren Tredrea (3)176Kane Cornes (2)173[18]
2006Brendon Lade157Shaun Burgoyne148[19]
2007Kane Cornes225Chad Cornes196[20]
2008Kane Cornes (2)135Domenic Cassisi115[21]
2009Warren Tredrea (4)103Kane Cornes (3)100[22]
2010Kane Cornes (3)134Troy Chaplin125[23]
2011Travis Boak13Tom Logan10[24]
Jackson Trengove
2012Kane Cornes (4)18Matthew Broadbent16[25]
Brad Ebert
2013Chad Wingard284Travis Boak266[26]
2014Robbie Gray398Travis Boak (2)255[27]
2015Robbie Gray (2)243Chad Wingard230[28]
2016Robbie Gray (3)230Ollie Wines ^206[29]
2017Paddy Ryder241Charlie Dixon234[30]
2018Justin Westhoff179Tom Jonas162[31]
Ollie Wines ^ (2)
2019Travis Boak (2)179Darcy Byrne-Jones ^168[32]
2020Darcy Byrne-Jones ^159Travis Boak (3)136[33]
2021Ollie Wines ^ #229Travis Boak (4)167[34]
2022Connor Rozee ^132Travis Boak (5)102[35]
2023Zak Butters ^190Connor Rozee ^170[36]
2024Zak Butters ^ (2)159Jason Horne-Francis ^152[37]
2025Zak Butters ^ (3)134Mitch Georgiades ^118[38]


Multiple winners

^ Denotes current player
Recipients Medals Seasons
Russell Ebert 6 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1981
John Cahill 4 1966, 1968, 1970, 1973
Kane Cornes 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012
Geof Motley 1958, 1959, 1963, 1965
Harry Phillips 1888, 1891, 1892, 1893
Jeff Potter 1961, 1964, 1967, 1969
Bob Quinn 1937, 1938, 1945, 1947
Warren Tredrea 2001, 2004, 2005, 2009
Zak Butters^ 3 2023, 2024, 2025
Craig Bradley 1982, 1984, 1985
Stephen Clifford 1978, 1980, 1983
Les Dayman 1923, 1924, 1928
Robbie Gray 2014, 2015, 2016
Dick Russell 1948, 1949, 1951
Thomas Smith 1877, 1888, 1889
Charlie Adams 2 1920, 1921
Jack Ashley 1914, 1919
Travis Boak 2011, 2019
Lewis Corston 1902, 1904
Jack Dermody 1933, 1935
Sinclair Dickson 1908, 1909
Harry Eaton 1913, 1915
Charlie Fry 1886, 1890
Neville Hayes 1957, 1960
Scott Hodges 1990, 1996
Albert Hollingworth 1934, 1936
Ernest Mucklow 1929, 1932
Harold Oliver 1911, 1912
John Quinn Sr. 1900, 1905
John Sidoli 1880, 1881
Ted Strawns 1901, 1906
Fos Williams 1950, 1955

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 The South Australian Football League was in recess from 1916 to 1918 due to World War I.[12]
  2. 1 2 3 The Port Adelaide Football Club was temporarily merged with West Torrens during the 1942, 1943 and 1944 SANFL seasons because of World War II.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Cherny, Daniel (26 June 2014). "Port to lobby for SANFL flags to count in revised AFL tally". The Age. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Honour Board" (PDF). portadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Best & Fairest Winners". portadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  4. ↑ Rucci, Michelangelo (5 November 2021). "Russell Ebert: A life in football". portadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  5. ↑ "Kane wins fourth Cahill Medal". portadelaidefc.com.au. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  6. ↑ Slevison, Andrew. "Three in a row: Butters is Port Adelaide's best again". www.sen.com.au. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  7. ↑ "2013 John Cahill Medal Preview". portadelaidefc.com.au. 18 September 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  8. ↑ Cranmer, Michael (1 October 2019). "John Cahill contenders - Travis Boak". portadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "John Cahill Medal preview: All the AFL awards". portadelaidefc.com.au. 8 October 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  10. ↑ "How the Voting Works". portadelaidefc.com.au. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  11. 1 2 Capel, Andrew (6 October 2001). "Tredrea stands tall". www.afl.com.au. Archived from the original on 2 December 2001. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
  12. ↑ "S.A Football League". The Mail (Adelaide). Vol. 7, no. 350. South Australia. 25 January 1919. p. 3. Retrieved 9 April 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ↑ "Football Season". The Chronicle. 23 April 1942. p. 20. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Award Winners 1997 – 2008". afl.com.au. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  15. ↑ "It's the captain's medal". portadelaidefc.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 November 2002. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
  16. ↑ "AFL club champions 2003". The Age. 5 October 2003. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  17. ↑ "Tredrea wins Port B & F". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 October 2004. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  18. ↑ "Tredrea voted as Port's best". ABC Online. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 October 2005. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  19. ↑ "Lade named Port's best". ABC Online. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 16 September 2006. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  20. ↑ "Best and Fairest Results" (PDF). footyindustry. Port Adelaide Football Club. p. 17. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  21. ↑ "Best and Fairest Leaderboard" (PDF). footyindustry. Port Adelaide Football Club. p. 34. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  22. ↑ "Tredrea Wins His Fourth John Cahill Medal". portadelaidefc.com.au. 3 October 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  23. ↑ "John Cahill Medal Final Tally Board". portadelaidefc.com.au. Archived from the original on 10 April 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  24. ↑ "Historic Tie In Medal". portadelaidefc.com.au. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  25. ↑ "B&F; Round by Round". portadelaidefc.com.au. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  26. ↑ Agius, Matthew (21 September 2013). "2013 John Cahill Medal - Round by Round voting". portadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 16 April 2026.
  27. ↑ Agius, Matthew (3 October 2014). "All shades of Gray as excitement machine takes home first John Cahill Medal". portadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  28. ↑ Agius, Matthew (5 December 2015). "Robbie Gray goes back-to-back with second John Cahill Medal". portadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  29. ↑ Say, Steph (9 September 2016). "Gray makes history with John Cahill Medal hat trick". portadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  30. ↑ Agius, Matthew (6 October 2017). "2017 Best and Fairest winners". portadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  31. ↑ Fouten, Loukas (5 October 2018). "B&F | 2018 John Cahill Medallist: Justin Westhoff". portadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  32. ↑ Fouten, Loukas (4 October 2019). "Travis Boak awarded the 2019 John Cahill medal". portadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  33. ↑ Fouten, Loukas (29 October 2020). "Byrne-Jones takes out the 2020 John Cahill Medal". portadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  34. ↑ Fouten, Loukas (30 September 2021). "Wines claims his first John Cahill Medal". portadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  35. ↑ Fouten, Loukas (5 December 2022). "2022 Best & Fairest: All the award winners". portadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  36. ↑ "Butters takes out first John Cahill Medal". portadelaidefc.com.au. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  37. ↑ Anderson, Jamie (4 October 2024). "Butters takes home second John Cahill Medal". portadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  38. ↑ Anderson, Jamie (2 September 2025). "Butters awarded third consecutive John Cahill Medal". portadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
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