As 2018 Kevin Sheedy Medal fast approaches, we’ve taken a look back at the history of the award that
Named after inaugural GIANTS coach and AFL Legend Kevin Sheedy, the medal sees five coaches giving each player a rating out of four for each match.
2012 – Callan Ward
It was fitting that one of the club’s highest-profile
Ward kicked eight goals in his 20 games, including the club’s first-ever goal in round one, and finished ahead of Toby Greene, Jeremy Cameron, Tom Scully and Jono Giles in the count.
2013 – Jeremy Cameron
Following on from his third-place finish in 2012, star forward Jeremy Cameron took home his first Kevin Sheedy Medal in 2013.
It was a truly outstanding season for Cameron, with the then 20-year-old kicking 62 goals and being named an All Australian as the GIANTS won just one game for the year.
Cameron also picked up the Members’ Choice Award and Goal of the Year on the night as he finished five votes ahead of reigning champion Callan Ward. Tom Scully finished third, while Dylan Shiel and Adam Treloar rounded out the top five.
2014 – Shane Mumford
Shane Mumford joined the GIANTS in the 2013 trade period and instantly had an impact on the young club. Under the guidance of new coach Leon Cameron, Mumford helped the GIANTS to six wins as he averaged a then career-high 36.3
Mumford also averaged a career-best 12.7 disposals per game and brought some welcome physicality to the GIANTS’ midfield, laying 5.8 tackles per game.
Mumford was the clear winner, nine votes ahead of Callan Ward and Devon Smith, who tied for second. Adam Treloar finished in the top five for the second consecutive season as Heath Shaw rounded out his first season at the club in
2015 – Heath Shaw
Heath Shaw had an outstanding 2015 season, becoming just the second GIANT to win All Australian
It was the first club best and fairest for Shaw, who had finished fifth in 2014 and third for Collingwood in 2009.
Under a new voting system, Shaw was the runaway winner, finishing 19 votes ahead of Adam Treloar. Callan Ward again finished in the top five as Jeremy Cameron and Stephen
2016 – Toby Greene
In a season that saw the GIANTS reach a Preliminary Final for the first time, there were a number of candidates in the mix to take home the Sheedy Medal in 2016,
The then 23-year-old was named in the All Australian team for the first time as he averaged 21.3 possessions per game and kicked 44 goals.
Greene’s season was all the more impressive considering it was his first as a permanent forward.
In a close count that saw first and fifth place separated by just 10 votes, Greene (151 votes) finished ahead of Tom Scully (148), Stephen Coniglio (146), Josh Kelly (144) and Heath Shaw (141).
2017 – Josh Kelly
While Josh Kelly had finished third in the 2016 Sheedy Medal, 2017 was truly a breakout year for the dashing midfielder.
Kelly averaged almost 30 disposals (11 of which
Named in the All Australian side for the first time, alongside Dylan Shiel, Kelly polled votes in every game, finishing a record 26 votes ahead of co-captain Callan Ward as Phil Davis, Dylan Shiel and Tom Scully rounded out the top five.