Young forward Toby Greene has tonight capped off an outstanding season, taking out the 2016 Kevin Sheedy Medal in a changing of the guard at the GIANTS.
Following his first All Australian honour last month, the midfielder-turned-forward has earned the GIANTS’ highest individual honour in just his fifth season in the AFL.
Greene accepted the award from his inaugural AFL coach Kevin Sheedy following an outstanding season in which he played in all but one game for the GIANTS and kicked 44 goals.
In an extremely close vote count, the 23-year-old took the lead for the first time in round 23 of the Premiership season before polling 17 votes in the GIANTS’ two finals to finish with 151 votes, just three ahead of midfielder Tom Scully (148 votes).
Midfielder Stephen Coniglio finished in third place with 146 votes while youngster Josh Kelly (144 votes) and vice-captain Heath Shaw (141 votes) rounded out the top five.
Greene’s breakout 2016 season saw him ranked equal second for the most goal assists in the competition and third for total inside 50s after the regular season, while averaging 21.3 possessions a game.
GIANTS Coach Leon Cameron acknowledged Greene’s football and personal development throughout 2016.
“Toby has had an outstanding season and this honour is very well-deserved,” Cameron said.
“We challenged Toby with a new role early in the season and he exceeded all expectations and took his game to a new level.
“I’m proud to watch the growth of Toby as both a footballer and a person and this is an outstanding achievement at such a young age.”
Earlier in the night, GIANTS CEO David Matthews told more than 450 guests at Le Montage in Sydney that 2016 was a year that saw the club make historic gains both on and off the field.
“The 2016 season is one we can all be hugely proud of and one that was characterised by unprecedented growth for our young club,” Mr Matthews said.
“In many ways this year has given us a taste for more success. And let me be very clear – at the GIANTS we make no apologies for wanting to be successful.
“There is no doubt that this year will cause us to revise our goals for next year, both on and off the field.”
Along with his top-five placing, young midfielder Josh Kelly also won the 13 CABS Coaches Award while ruckman Shane Mumford was presented with the 2016 GIANTS Standards Defensive Award.
Jacob Hopper took home the Oxanda Education Rising Star Award after an outstanding debut season with the GIANTS in 2016, while Stephen Coniglio was named by the fans and members as the Brightside Cover Most Valuable Player.
Star forward Jeremy Cameron finished as the club’s Leading Goal Kicker for the fifth year in a row while veteran forward Steve Johnson, who recently signed a new one-year deal with the GIANTS, took out the Toyo Tires Goal of the Year and finished in 10th place in the Club Champion count.
After pledging his commitment to the GIANTS by signing a two-year extension earlier in the week, Rory Lobb claimed the Virgin Australia Mark of the Year Award for his courageous mark in the Round 11 clash with Geelong.
The Kevin Sheedy Medal is voted on by Coach Leon Cameron as well as Assistant Coaches Amon Buchanan and Luke Power with Nick Walsh and Nick Maxwell combining their votes. Up to four votes are able to be awarded to a player by each coach every round with each player able to receive a maximum of 16 votes per round.
2016 Kevin Sheedy Medal Top 10
1. Toby Greene (151 votes)
2. Tom Scully (148 votes)
3. Stephen Coniglio (146 votes)
4. Josh Kelly (144 votes)
5. Heath Shaw (141 votes)
6. Dylan Shiel (137 votes)
7. Zac Williams (129 votes)
8. Shane Mumford, Callan Ward (123 votes)
10. Steve Johnson (117 votes)
Award Winners
2016 Rising Star Award, presented by Oxanda Education
Jacob Hopper
2016 GIANTS Academy Player of the Year
Harry Perryman
2016 GIANTS Standards Defensive Award
Shane Mumford
2016 Western Sydney University NEAFL Development Award
Jeremy Finlayson
2016 Members and Fans Most Valuable Player, presented by Brightside Cover
Stephen Coniglio
2016 Virgin Australia Mark of the Year
Rory Lobb (Round 11 v Geelong)
2016 Toyo Tires Goal of the Year
Steve Johnson (Round 11 v Geelong)
2016 Leading Goal Kicker, presented by Dyldam
Jeremy Cameron (53 goals)
2016 13 CABS Coaches Award
Josh Kelly
Former winners of the Kevin Sheedy Medal:
2012 - Callan Ward
2013 - Jeremy Cameron
2014 - Shane Mumford
2015 - Heath Shaw
