LACHIE Hunter has claimed his first Western Bulldogs best and fairest, surprisingly edging out Jack Macrae by a single vote in a thrilling Charles Sutton Medal count at Crown Palladium on Wednesday night. 

The 23-year-old finished with 191 votes, ahead of placegetters Macrae (190) and vice-captain Marcus Bontempelli (154).

The ultra-consistent Hunter, who missed just one game this season, trailed by eight when the votes were tallied at the end of round eight, but was nine votes clear at the end of round 16, before surviving a late challenge by Macrae.

Macrae, who was selected in this year's 40-man Virgin Australia AFL All Australian squad, was considered a Brownlow Medal fancy before a mid-season hamstring injury cost the gun midfielder three games on the sidelines.

Hunter, who finished sixth in last year's count, averaged a career-high 30 disposals from 21 games this season, while the father-son recruit ranked 12th in the AFL for total effective disposals (466), sixth for uncontested possessions (431) and 17th for kicks (343).   

First-year key defender Aaron Naughton was rewarded for an impressive debut season, finishing fourth on 120 votes, while premiership forward Josh Dunkley's successful move into the midfield saw him finish in fifth place on 110 votes.

Following each AFL match, coach Luke Beveridge and four assistants each give a vote from zero to five for each player. Players can receive a minimum of zero or maximum of 25 votes for any game.

Wantaway free agent Luke Dahlhaus did not attend the event, but Beveridge thanked the 25-year-old for his service and wished him good luck at Geelong, his likely new home.

Charles Sutton Medal Top 10

1. Lachie Hunter – 191 votes
2. Jack Macrae – 190 votes
3. Marcus Bontempelli – 154 votes
4. Aaron Naughton – 120 votes
5. Josh Dunkley – 110 votes
6. Caleb Daniel – 110 votes
7. Jason Johannisen – 109 votes
8. Hayden Crozier - 98 votes
9. Toby McLean – 91 votes
10. Bailey Williams – 86 votes