2022 Neil Bencraft Best and Fairest Wrap

05/09/2022

Tom Campbell crowned the 2022 Neil Bencraft Best & Fairest in a tight vote count.

Best & Fairest
Tom Campbell

St Kilda-listed ruckman, Tom Campbell, has taken home the 2022 Neil Bencraft Best & Fairest (Cliff Donnell Trophy) by just one vote.

Campbell played only 12 games with the Zebras yet had a massive impact in all of them, averaging 21.2 disposals, 7.9 clearances, 3.8 marks, 37.1 hitouts and kicking nine goals in those games. Campbell was also rewarded for his efforts with a spot in the VFL Team of the Year squad.

Runner Up Best & Fairest
Leo Connolly

After a very consistent season, young St Kilda-listed defender, Leo Connolly, finished Runner-Up, just one vote behind Campbell.

Playing in all but one game this season for us, Connolly averaged 19.8 disposals, 13.6 kicks, 4.4 marks and was always a strong presence down back in every game he played.

Zebras Captain, Anthony Seaton, finished the night in third place, only two votes behind Campbell and one vote away from Connolly.

Seaton played all 18 games this season, and provided leadership and a strong voice down back, averaging 11.2 disposals, 7.4 kicks and 3.7 marks as a small defender. With another consistent season under his belt, he continued to grow his game at VFL level.

Third Place
Anthony Seaton

Young-gun and former Sandringham Dragon, Darby Hipwell, was awarded the Ray Patmore Trophy as the Best First Year Player. Whilst Hipwell played some games with the Zebras in 2021, this was his first year on a VFL list.

Working hard up forward and in the midfield, Hipwell made huge strides in his development this year, averaging 14.5 disposals, 2.7 tackles and kicking eight goals in 15 matches this season.

Hipwell was also joint winner of the Ed Hattam Memorial Trophy for the Most Determined Player, alongside teammate Jake Lohmann.

Lohmann also took home the Coaches Award for 2022.

Joint Most Determined winners
Darby Hipwell & Jake Lohmann

Blake Watson received the Greg Lyons Memorial Trophy for the Most Courageous Player. Coming into the side this year from the northern suburb of Whittlesea, he slotted right in from the moment he made his debut in round 4 against the Gold Coast Suns.

Consistently providing a strong presence on the inside, he played every match following his debut and averaged 15.6 disposals, 4.5 tackles, four clearances per game as well as kicking eight goals in 15 games.

Watson also took home the Zeal Player of the Year Award, a player-voted award for the player who demonstrates consistency of effort for 4 quarters, is selfless, a great teammate (celebrates successes, pick mates off the ground), hard to play on (aggressive and relentless), plays to their strengths and backs themselves.