Andrew Brayshaw has been crowned Fremantle’s best AFL player of 2022, winning the Doig Medal by a clear margin.
The star midfielder polled 273 votes from the 22 home and away season games and two finals to finish 73 votes ahead of runner-up Brennan Cox.
Following each game, Senior Coach Justin Longmuir and four coaches – Josh Carr, Matthew Boyd, Jaymie Graham and Joel Corey – allocated up to five votes to each player based on how they performed their role, meaning a player can receive up to 25 votes in a game for an elite performance.
Brayshaw had two 20-vote games in round six against Carlton and round 12 against Brisbane.
He polled votes in every game and had 15-votes or more on 10 occasions.
The 22-year-old Brayshaw is the third-youngest player to win the Doig Medal behind Matthew Pavlich and Nat Fyfe.
The award completes a series of accolades for Brayshaw in 2022, where he was also named the AFL Players’ Most Valuable Player, earned All Australian honours and finished fourth in the Brownlow Medal.
The second-placed finish for Cox was the defender’s first Doig Medal top 10 in his six seasons at the Club, in a year where he was also named in the All Australian squad.
There was a tie for third and fourth position on 197 votes, with Caleb Serong claiming third on a countback ahead of Alex Pearce, having received more four-vote games from an individual coach.
The 21-year-old Serong has had a steady rise since his debut season in 2020, finishing ninth in his first year and fourth in 2021.
He surged late in the count, sitting 17th after 11 rounds and seventh after the home and away season.
His 20 votes in the Elimination Final against the Western Bulldogs was the most of any player, and he also polled the equal-most votes in the Semi Final against Collingwood.
He was named Fremantle’s Player of the Finals after he averaged 33.5 disposals, 16 contested possessions and 7.5 clearances over the two games.
Pearce benefited from his continuity for his highest finish at the Doig Medal, playing 21 of a possible 24 games, predominantly on the opposition’s no.1 key forward.
Lachie Schultz rounded out the top five on 192 votes, adding to his Glendinning-Allan Medal win in the round three RAC Derby.
Emerging defender Brandon Walker won the Beacon Award as the best young player, edging out fellow backman Heath Chapman by one vote.
All first-year players, and second-year players who had 10 or fewer games experience to start the season, were eligible for the award.
Sam Switkowski was recognised for his efforts both on and off the field with the Best Clubman award.
Fremantle also recognised the administrative and playing contributions of Chris Bond and Tony Godden, with the pair induced as Life Members.
Inaugural board member Ron Alexander received the Con Regan Medal, which recognises outstanding service and dedication to the Fremantle Football Club.
The Club also recognised four dedicated individuals with an Outstanding Service award in Barrie Herbert for his long and continuing assistance when Fremantle travel to Melbourne, Richard Lakeland and Paul Sinor for their tireless work for the recruiting team by watching countless games interstate, and Megan Bignell who never misses an away game as the coordinator of the Melbourne Cheer Squad.
DOIG MEDAL TOP 10
Andrew Brayshaw – 273
Brennan Cox – 200
Caleb Serong – 197
Alex Pearce – 197
Lachie Schultz – 192
Griffin Logue – 183
Michael Walters – 175
Hayden Young – 164
Jordan Clark – 163
Rory Lobb - 161
Gallery: Doig Medal Purple Carpet
Fyfe and JL on where Freo need to improve
