NORTH Melbourne's young star Harry Sheezel has joined an elite club, becoming one of only 10 players to claim a third Syd Barker Medal as the Kangas' best and fairest on Wednesday night.
Another outstanding season saw Sheezel hold off Luke Davies-Uniacke to claim the honour by just two votes in a thrilling count, with former captain Jy Simpkin also on the podium after a strong campaign.
Sheezel averaged career highs for disposals (30.4 per game), marks (6.5), tackles (4.9), clearances (4.5) and score involvements (7.2) this season, enough to see him take home the Syd Barker Medal despite missing the final game with injury.
Remarkably still only 21 years of age, the victory saw Sheezel join a group of only 10 players with three Syd Barker Medals and now has him within touching distance of Brent Harvey's all-time record of five.
Wayne Carey, David Dench and Noel Teasdale are the only others ahead of him with four, while Sheezel joined Allen Aylett, Les Foote, Matthew Larkin, Brady Rawlings and Andrew Swallow with three each.
It was a fine night for Sheezel, who also took home the prestigious Glenn Archer Shinboner of the Year award and the fan-voted Mazda BT-50 Give It Heaps Award across the evening.
Charlie Comben won both the Harold Henderson Best Clubman Award and the Peter Scanlon Community Award, while exciting forward Cooper Trembath capped his campaign with the Best Young Player Award.
Luke Parker and Caleb Daniel rounded out the top five in the best and fairest voting, while Tristan Xerri, Paul Curtis, Finn O'Sullivan, Colby McKercher and Comben finished inside the top 10.
Five coaches vote on the Syd Barker Medal each week using a 4-3-2-1 system where four votes are delivered for a best-on-ground game, three for an excellent game, two for playing your role with influence and one for playing your role.
Syd Barker Medal leaderboard
1. Harry Sheezel – 222 votes
2. Luke Davies-Uniacke – 220
3. Jy Simpkin – 203
4. Luke Parker – 202
5. Caleb Daniel – 199
6. Tristan Xerri – 171
7. Paul Curtis – 165
8. Finn O'Sullivan – 156
9. Colby McKercher – 147
10. Charlie Comben – 146
Best Young Player Award:Â Cooper Trembath
Glenn Archer Shinboner of the Year Award: Harry Sheezel
Mazda BT-50 Give It Heaps Award: Harry Sheezel
Harold Henderson Best Clubman Award: Charlie Comben
Peter Scanlon Community Award:Â Charlie Comben
John Law Medal (VFL BnF):Â Matthew Keast, James Tarrant, Darcy Macpherson
VFL Best Clubman Award:Â Hugh Byrne
