GIANTS co-captain Callan Ward capped off another consistent season with a career-best finish in the 2015 Brownlow Medal last night.
Ward polled in nine of his 22 games to finish equal eighth alongside Fremantle midfielder David Mundy on 19 votes.
He was given best on ground honours on four separate occasions and was the highest polling AFL club captain this season.
Ward, who averaged 25 touches, four marks and five tackles in 2015, finished ahead of teammates Jeremy Cameron (12 votes) and Adam Treloar (seven votes).
It seems the courageous midfielder might have surprised a few punters with his performance, including AFL Media who predicated just nine votes and a 34th-placed finish.
Ward landed 12 votes behind eventual winner Nat Fyfe from Fremantle.
It was also a career-high vote haul for key forward Jeremy Cameron who finished equal 20th in the league on 12 votes.
Cameron finished second in the Coleman Medal on 63 goals behind Eagle Josh Kennedy and won the GIANTS’ goal kicking award for the fourth consecutive year.
Midfielder Dylan Shiel was the unlucky story from the night, failing to impress the umpires despite having an exceptional start to the season.
Shiel was an early Brownlow favourite before he suffered a season-ending knee injury against St Kilda in round 15.
He finished the night on six votes, well below what most anticipated.
It was a similar story for vice captain Heath Shaw who amazingly failed to poll a single vote, despite winning the GIANTS’ Club Champion Award, the Kevin Sheedy Medal and his first All Australian honours.
Overall it was the club’s most successful season at the Brownlow, polling a total of 63 votes compared to 46 votes in 2014.
FINAL BROWNLOW VOTE TALLY - GWS GIANTS
Ward - 19
Cameron - 12
Treloar - 7
Shiel - 6
Coniglio - 4
Mumford - 3
Greene - 3
Smith - 3
Griffen - 2
McCarthy - 2
Palmer - 1
Bugg - 1
