Brisbane Lions star Tom Rockliff tonight capped a superb AFL season by taking out the prestigious Merrett-Murray Medal as the Club’s best and fairest player in 2011.

Rockliff, 21, became the youngest ever Brisbane Lions Club Champion, proving a popular choice for the 600 guests at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Topping off a stunning 2011, that saw him elevated into the Lions’ leadership group, Rockliff collected a total of 37.5 votes during the season, narrowly edging out Simon Black (2nd place, 35.5 votes) and Jack Redden (3rd place, 35 votes) for the Club’s highest individual honour.

Rockliff’s rise as Club Champion comes, incredibly, just a year after being named the Club’s Rookie of the Year at the 2010 awards.

He has emerged as one of the Lions’ most exciting success stories in 2011, establishing himself as a true professional and team leader both on and off the field.

Rockliff’s leadership qualities were recognised from early in the season as one of the youngest players in the Lions’ history to be included in the leadership group.

He went on to display outstanding and consistent form on the field, being among the Lions’ top five for the season in key statistical categories including disposals, marks, goal assists, and tackles.

Such was his contribution to the team, Rockliff led the final voting tally by 2 votes despite missing two games of the season with a calf injury.

Black added three more accolades to his already bursting trophy cabinet, collecting the Members’ Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards alongside the Nigel Lappin Trophy for Club Champion Runner-Up.

Redden, in third place, also took home the Shaun Hart Most Courageous Player award.

Vice-Captain Jed Adcock collected the Marcus Ashcroft Most Professional Player award, while breakout sensation Patrick Karnezis was named Rookie of the Year.

The Club also inducted two new life members - long-serving board member David Liddy, and recently retired Premiership ruckman Jamie Charman.

The full list of winners from the Club Champion awards is below.

Merrett-Murray Medal (Club Champion Winner): Tom Rockliff
Nigel Lappin Trophy (Club Champion Runner-Up): Simon Black
Alastair Lynch Trophy (Club Champion Third Place): Jack Redden
Players’ Player of the Year: Simon Black
Marcus Ashcroft Most Professional Player: Jed Adcock
Shaun Hart Most Courageous Player: Jack Redden
Rookie of the Year: Patrick Karnezis
Members’ Player of the Year: Simon Black
Life Member Inductees: Jamie Charman and David Liddy

Merrett-Murray Medal Voting
1.Tom Rockliff - 37.5 votes
2.Simon Black - 35.5 votes
3.Jack Redden - 35 votes
=4.Jed Adcock - 32.5 votes
=4.Pearce Hanley - 32.5 votes
6.Matthew Leuenberger - 31.5 votes
7.Ash McGrath - 25 votes
8.Todd Banfield - 22 votes
=9.Daniel Merrett - 20.5 votes
=9.Joel Patfull - 20.5 votes

Past winners
2010: Michael Rischitelli
2009: Jonathan Brown
2008: Jonathan Brown
2007: Jonathan Brown
2006: Simon Black
2005: Jason Akermanis
2004: Nigel Lappin
2003: Michael Voss
2002: Simon Black
2001: Simon Black, Michael Voss
2000: Michael Voss
1999: Justin Leppitsch, Jason Akermanis
1998: Chris Scott
1997: Matthew Clarke