Captain Toby Greene has won the 2023 Kevin Sheedy Medal, taking out the GIANTS’ club champion award for a second time.
In one of the club’s closest vote counts, Greene edged out contenders Stephen Coniglio and Tom Green in the final three games of the GIANTS’ 27-game season to take out top spot with 71 votes.
It was a battle between the three for much of the night with the trio sitting at the top of the leaderboard at nearly every break.
Just two votes separated Greene and Coniglio at the end of the regular season, with voting continuing through the club’s run to a preliminary final.
Vice-captain Coniglio and midfield star Green finished as dual runners up, with the pair finishing on 66 votes. Lachie Whitfield (61) and Josh Kelly (58) rounded out the top five.
His second club champion award tops off an incredible season for Greene, having not only led his team to a preliminary final in his first year as sole captain, but also awarded one of the game’s highest honours - All Australian captain - as he collected a third blazer.
The 30-year-old played 24 of the GIANTS’ 27 matches this season, averaging 17.8 disposals, 4.4 marks and 2.5 marks, as well as slotting a career-best 66 goals.
Greene last took out the club’s major award in 2016, making him the third player to become a dual Kevin Sheedy Medallist, alongside Lachie Whitfield and Josh Kelly.
GIANTS coach Adam Kingsley congratulated Greene on his fantastic season.
“This is a fitting recognition for Toby to top off a fantastic season for him individually,” Kingsley said.
“We all know the calibre of player that Toby is and what he is capable of but to see him continue his on-field dominance whilst leading his side to finals has been sensational and a pleasure to coach.
“He’s one of the toughest and most exciting players in the game and loves to stand up in big moments, which is essentially what got him across the line in what was a thrilling vote count this year.
“We’re extremely proud of Toby as both a player and leader, but more importantly as a person and we look forward to seeing what he can continue to do for this club in the years to come.
“I’d also like to congratulate Stephen and Tom on fantastic seasons and for finishing as dual runners up for 2023.
“This year’s vote count was thoroughly enjoyable and shows both the depth and future talent within our GIANTS’ list with the likes of Connor Idun, Jacky Buckley and Lachie Ash all finishing in the top 10.
“Congratulations also to all the other award winners, it was a wonderful way to cap off the 2023 season and we can’t wait to see what the 2024 season brings.”
Greene was also recognised with the Members Choice Award, alongside Goal of the Year – for his round seven match winner against the Swans - and the club’s Leading Goal Kicker award.
Harry Himmelberg was awarded the GIANTS’ Mark of the Year for his round one hanger against the Crows at GIANTS Stadium, which was also recognised on Brownlow Medal night as the AFL’s Four’N Twenty Mark of the Year.
After recording a career-best finish in the count, young defender Jack Buckley was awarded Adam Kingsley’s first Coaches Award.
Emerging star Finn Callaghan was awarded the club’s Rising Star award for his potential shown across his 21 games this season while draft hopeful Harvey Thomas was named the Academy Player of the Year.
Meanwhile, returning for the first time since 2019, the GIANTS’ Community Award was awarded to Kieren Briggs for his work with club charity partner Ronald McDonald House Greater Western Sydney.
In a new award introduced by the coaching staff this year, it was a three-way tie for Best Finals Player with Connor Idun, Tom Green and Lachie Whitfield all polling the most Kevin Sheedy Medal votes throughout the GIANTS’ three-game finals series.
In other formalities throughout the evening, the GIANTS honoured outgoing and inaugural Chairman Tony Shepherd, AO as the club paid tribute to the retiring Chair following his 13-year tenure, which has now concluded.
Retirees Daniel Lloyd and Phil Davis were also recognised while five club servants were presented with their Life Memberships with 150-gamers Adam Kennedy and Harry Himmelberg awarded playing Life Membership, while administrators Michael Costello AO, Andrew Demetriou and Dale Holmes were also recognised for their significant contributions to the club.
The 2023 Kevin Sheedy Medal was held at the Ivy Ballroom in Sydney with players, staff and guests joining hosts Melissa Doyle and Jim Wilson for the presentation of the awards.
The 2023 Medal saw a new voting structure implemented this year with the arrival of Adam Kingsley. After each game, line coaches rate their respective players from a pre-determined performance scale. All line coaches then meet to determine an overall rating for each player before submitting to head coach Adam Kingsley who allocated up to six votes for each player for each game.
The votes across the season were then tallied up, with the player with the most votes at the end of the GIANTS’ season awarded the Kevin Sheedy Medal.
2023 Kevin Sheedy Medal Top 10:
1 Toby Greene (71 votes)
=2 Stephen Coniglio and Tom Green (66)
4 Lachie Whitfield (61)
5 Josh Kelly (58)
6 Connor Idun (54)
7 Jack Buckley (53)
8 Sam Taylor (46)
9 Brent Daniels (42)
10 Lachie Ash (41)
2023 Award Winners:
Academy Player of the Year, presented by BINGO Industries:
Harvey Thomas
VFL Player of the Year:
Cameron Fleeton
GIANTS Community Award presented by Western Sydney University:
Kieren Briggs
Rising Star Award, presented by VAILO:
Finn Callaghan
Members’ Choice Award, presented by Toyo Tires:
Toby Greene
Mark of the Year, presented by Harvey Norman:
Harry Himmelberg – Round 1 v Crows
Goal of the Year, presented by Toyo Tires:
Toby Greene – Round 7 v Swans
Leading Goal Kicker, presented by Crypto.com:
Toby Greene – 66 goals
Coaches Award, presented by EFEX:
Jack Buckley
Best Finals Player
Connor Idun, Tom Green and Lachie Whitfield
Previous Kevin Sheedy Medal Winners:
2022 – Sam Taylor
2021 – Josh Kelly
2020 – Nick Haynes and Lachie Whitfield
2019 – Tim Taranto
2018 – Lachie Whitfield
2017 – Josh Kelly
2016 – Toby Greene
2015 – Heath Shaw
2014 – Shane Mumford
2013 – Jeremy Cameron
2012 – Callan Ward
