THE 2018 Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal was won by Josh Corbett on Monday night, putting the talented Werribee forward in an ideal position to realise his AFL dream.
The past 12 winners of the prestigious VFL award, handed to the League's best player under the age of 24, have ultimately been picked up by AFL clubs somewhere down the track.
Seven of those 12 players were still on AFL lists in 2018, making valuable contributions at senior level, with clubs routinely using the award to pluck hidden gems from the VFL.
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Here are the past 12 winners of the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal and how they have fared at AFL level.
2006: Jason Davenport
VFL Club: Geelong
Drafted: Geelong, Pick 36 in the 2006 NAB AFL Rookie Draft
Having impressed as an attacking wingman in Geelong's 2006 VFL side, Davenport was picked up as a rookie by the Cats later that year. Although he was upgraded to the senior list in his second season at the club, he was delisted in 2008 having not managed a single senior appearance. He was later recruited to Port Adelaide, where he finally made his AFL debut. He ultimately played 28 games across three years with the Power.
2007: Shane Valenti
VFL Club: Sandringham
Drafted: Melbourne, Pick 49 in the 2007 NAB AFL Rookie Draft
A promising inside midfielder with Sandringham, Valenti was recruited to Melbourne as a rookie after winning the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal in 2007. He played 15 games for the club across two years, even picking up Brownlow votes in his second-last AFL match after a 30-disposal effort against Fremantle. He was later delisted, returning to the VFL with Port Melbourne, where he won back-to-back JJ Liston Trophies in 2010 and 2011.
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2008: Robin Nahas
VFL Club: Port Melbourne
Drafted: Richmond, Pick 8 in the 2008 NAB AFL Rookie Draft
The dangerous small forward enjoyed a terrific VFL season with Port Melbourne, later recruited to Richmond as one of the first players taken in the 2008 rookie draft. He enjoyed a solid AFL career, kicking 100 goals from 83 games with the Tigers before defecting to the Kangaroos. There, he added a further 35 goals from 34 games before ultimately calling time. He returned to Port Melbourne in 2017, where he finished his playing days.
Robin Nahas played 117 AFL games with Richmond and North Melbourne. Picture: AFL Photos
2009: Michael Barlow
VFL Club: Werribee
Drafted: Fremantle, Pick 8 in the 2009 NAB AFL Rookie Draft
Barlow won the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal and came second in the JJ Liston Trophy in the same season with Werribee, before being recruited to Fremantle later that year. He burst onto the scene, averaging nearly 28 disposals in his first season in the AFL system and polling 12 Brownlow votes. He has enjoyed a solid AFL career since that has spanned almost a decade, playing 141 games for the Dockers and the Suns. He was delisted this year.
2010: Michael Hibberd
VFL Club: Frankston
Drafted: Essendon, Pick 4 in the 2010 NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft
Hibberd has improved in leaps and bounds since his impressive 2010 season with Frankston. He played 84 games with Essendon, before leaving the club after his year-long suspension for his part in the club's supplements saga. Since moving to Melbourne in 2017, where he has played 37 matches, Hibberd has won an All Australian jacket and has been one of the team's most consistent performers across half-back.
Michael Hibberd is averaging 22 disposals from 121 AFL games. Picture: AFL Photos
2011: Ahmed Saad
VFL Club: Northern Blues
Drafted: Prelisted by Greater Western Sydney, traded to St Kilda
A consistent goalkicker with the Northern Blues, Saad was prelisted by the Giants during the 2011 NAB AFL Trade Period, before being shifted to the Saints. He played 33 games across four years with St Kilda, kicking 48 goals. However, his career was interrupted by an 18-month suspension after testing positive to a banned substance. He soon went back to the VFL with Coburg, winning the Frosty Miller Medal in 2016 as the League's leading goalkicker.
2012: Dean Towers
VFL Club: North Ballarat
Drafted: Sydney, Pick 22 in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft
Towers was a first-round draft pick at Sydney, having won the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal as a 22-year-old with North Ballarat. He's endured an indifferent career with the Swans, playing just 57 games across six years. Able to play both up forward or through the midfield, he remains on Sydney's list, but managed only eight games this year and didn't play in its elimination final defeat to the Giants last weekend.
2013: Kane Lambert
VFL Club: Northern Blues
Drafted: Richmond, Pick 46 in the 2014 NAB AFL Rookie Draft
What a story. Drafted as a rookie after a superb 2013 season with the Northern Blues, Lambert has become one of Richmond's most important players. He's now a premiership player, finishing third in the club's 2017 best and fairest, before being selected in the 40-man squad for this year's All Australian team. He's so far played 73 AFL games across his career, but he's shown no signs of slowing down just yet.
Premiership Tiger Kane Lambert started his career with the Northern Blues. Picture: AFL Photos
2014: Nic Newman
VFL Club: Frankston
Drafted: Sydney, Pick 35 in the 2014 NAB AFL Rookie Draft
Newman had to wait until 2017 before finally cracking the Sydney team, sitting on the list without a senior appearance for two years before that. He was a consistent performer last season, averaging more than 20 disposals per game across half-back. However, he found the going a little more difficult in 2018 and managed only 11 games after falling out of favour with John Longmire during the beginning of the season.
2015: Adam Marcon
VFL Club: Williamstown
Drafted: Richmond, Pick 47 in the 2015 NAB AFL Rookie Draft
Marcon knocked down the door with Williamstown to earn his opportunity on an AFL list, but would only last one season with Richmond as a rookie. He had 22 disposals and kicked a goal in his second game, but wouldn't be seen again. He was delisted at the end of the year, returning to the VFL with Williamstown.
2016: Luke Ryan
VFL Club: Coburg
Drafted: Fremantle, Pick 66 in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft
The intercept defender enjoyed a fantastic season with Coburg in 2016, before being recruited to Fremantle during the following draft. He's enjoyed a fantastic start to his AFL career, playing 31 games across his first two years and becoming one of Fremantle's most important defenders. At just 22 years of age, he'll continue to improve.
Defender Luke Ryan has played 31 games since being recruited to Fremantle. Picture: AFL Photos
2017: Bayley Fritsch
VFL Club: Casey
Drafted: Melbourne, Pick 31 in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft
The high-flying forward was plucked from Melbourne's VFL affiliate during last year's draft, but hasn't looked out of place on the AFL scene in his first season in the system. He's kicked 17 goals from 22 games, while he's also locked down important roles both defensively and on a wing. He'll play a key role in the club's finals campaign this season.
2018: Josh Corbett
VFL Club: Werribee
Drafted: TBC
Corbett kicked 22 goals from nine VFL games with Werribee this season, before an eye injury prematurely ended his year. A 190cm forward, Corbett has impressed with his contested marking ability and his knack for consistently hitting the scoreboard. After the success of Lambert, Ryan and Fritsch recently, you can assume AFL clubs will be lining up to get a crack at the 22-year-old at season's end.
