Brisbane Lions defender Joel Patfull was tonight awarded the Merrett-Murray Medal as the Club’s best and fairest player for the second consecutive year.
Patfull, 27, had another superb season in defence, playing all 22 games for the year.
He polled a total of 31.5 votes from the Lions’ Match Committee – narrowly edging out Irishman Pearce Hanley, who finished the night with 30.5 votes. Jack Redden finished the night in third place with a total of 26.5 votes.
Patfull was once again the team’s best defender in 2013, leading the Club in total marks (114), spoils (140), and intercept possessions (135).
He collected 50 more possessions, took 26 more marks, had 11 more rebounds, had 23 less clangers and took eight more contested marks than his Merrett-Murray Medal winning 2012 season.
Patfull also spent more time on the ground than any other Lions player in 2013.
The definition of “Mr. Consistent,” Patfull has played 161 of a possible 162 matches since his debut for the Lions in Round 8, 2006.
In fitting recognition of Patfull’s selfless, team focused approach, his teammates awarded him the Players’ Player of the Year.
And as the icing on the cake, Patfull also took home the Shaun Hart Most Courageous Player award, bringing his award tally for the evening to three.
Patfull becomes the fifth player in the Lions’ merged history to be awarded a second Merrett-Murray Medal, and just the fourth player to be crowned back to back Club Champion.
Runner-up, Pearce Hanley, had what was arguably a career-best season and despite missing two games, trailed Patfull by just one vote at the end of the count.
Whilst Hanley narrowly missing out on the Club Champion Crown, he proved to be a fan favourite, taking home the Members’ Player of the year.
Meanwhile, classy, first-year player, Sam Mayes took out the Rookie of the Year award after impressing in his debut season.
Taken with Pick No.8 in last year’s AFL National Draft, Mayes played 18 games in 2013 and was the worthy recipient of the Round 12 NAB Rising Star nomination.
Rounding out the winners’ list was ruckman, Matthew Leuenberger, who was named the Marcus Ashcroft Most Professional Player. After missing the majority of 2012 through injury, Leuenberger missed just two games in 2013 and finished fourth in the league for hit outs, averaging 30 a game.
The Club also inducted Graeme ‘Gubby’ Allan as a Life Member in recognition of the significant contribution he made with both Fitzroy and Brisbane.
Current players, Co-Captain, Jed Adcock and Daniel Merrett were also inducted as Life Members.
The full list of winners from the Brisbane Lions’ 2013 Club Champion awards night is below.
Merrett-Murray Medal (Club Champion Winner): Joel Patfull
Nigel Lappin Trophy (Club Champion Runner-Up): Pearce Hanley
Alastair Lynch Trophy (Club Champion Third Place): Jack Redden
Players’ Player of the Year: Joel Patfull
Marcus Ashcroft Most Professional Player: Matthew Leuenberger
Shaun Hart Most Courageous Player: Joel Patfull
Rookie of the Year: Sam Mayes
Members’ Player of the Year: Pearce Hanley
Life Member Inductee: Graeme “Gubby” Allan, Daniel Merrett and Jed Adcock
Merrett-Murray Medal Voting
1. Joel Patfull – 31.5 votes
2. Pearce Hanley – 30.5 votes
3. Jack Redden – 26.5 votes
=4. Tom Rockliff – 25 votes
=4: Dayne Zorko – 25 votes
6. Matthew Leuenberger – 24 votes
7. Jed Adcock – 20 votes
=8. Brent Moloney – 18 votes
=8. Andrew Raines – 18 votes
=10. Mitch Golby – 16.5 votes
=10. Sam Mayes - 16.5
