Brett Deledio, shooting for his third straight Richmond Best and Fairest award, has had an excellent season in a sweeping role across half-back, but he faces strong opposition from Tiger captain, Chris Newman, star spearhead, Jack Riewoldt, and young gun, Dustin Martin.
Deledio averaged 25.3 disposals per game in his 22 appearances for the Tigers this season. The 23-year-old veteran of 128 AFL games had 20 disposals or more 20 times, with a season-best 35 against Hawthorn at the MCG in Round 8. He was ranked No. 1 at the Club for kicks (302), No. 2 for handballs (254), No. 1 for total disposals (556), No. 2 for total marks (116), No. 1 for inside-50 entries (76) and No. 1 for rebound-50s (93).
Newman enjoyed his best season of league football in 2010. The Tiger skipper averaged 19.5 disposals per game in his 21 appearances, with a season-high 28 against reigning premier Geelong at Skilled Stadium in Round 6. He had 20 disposals or more on 12 occasions. In the rebound-50s category at the Club, he was ranked No. 2, with a total of 79, while he was ranked No. 5 for total disposals (410), No. 4 for total marks (101), No. 6 for inside-50 entries (52), and equal No.5 for tackles (68).
Riewoldt kicked 78 goals in his 22 games this season, winning the Coleman Medal as the competition’s leading goalkicker. He scored three goals or more 14 times, and four goals or more on eight occasions. From Round 8-15, he booted 43 goals, the highest individual total in a consecutive eight-game period by an AFL player since Essendon’s Matthew Lloyd in 2001. Riewoldt was ranked No. 1 at the Club for total marks (123), No. 1 for contested marks (54), No. 1 for marks inside-50 (79), and equal No. 5 for tackles (68).
Martin had a major impact in Richmond’s midfield throughout his debut season of AFL football. The 19-year-old averaged just over 20 disposals per match in his 21 games. He had 20 disposals or more 11 times, with a season-high 26 against Brisbane at the Gabba in Round 13. He was ranked No. 1 at the Club for clearances (97), No. 3 for total disposals (425), No. 2 for inside-50 entries (74), No. 2 for contested possessions (179) and No. 4 for tackles (70).
The 2010 Jack Dyer Medallist should come from that talented Tiger quartet, although Shane Tuck, who has finished top-10 in the Best and Fairest in each of his five full seasons at Punt Road also has claims, along with the much-improved Shane Edwards.
The 2009 Jack Dyer Medal top 10
1. Brett Deledio 190 votes
2. Daniel Jackson 175
3. Chris Newman 162
4. Richard Tambling 152
5. Ben Cousins 145
6. Nathan Foley 128
7. Shane Tuck 124
8. Jack Riewoldt 121
9. Dean Polo 118
10. Mitch Morton 115
Past 10 Jack Dyer Medal winners
2009: Brett Deledio
2008: Brett Deledio
2007: Matthew Richardson
2006: Kane Johnson
2005: Joel Bowden
2004: Joel Bowden
2003: Mark Coughlan
2002: Wayne Campbell
2001: Darren Gaspar
2000: Andrew Kellaway
Most RFC Best and Fairests
6 - Jack Dyer (1932, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1946)
5 - Kevin Bartlett (1967, 1968, 1973, 1974, 1977)
4 - Roy Wright (1951, 1952, 1954, 1957), Wayne Campbell (1995, 1997, 1999, 2002)
3 - Bill Morris (1945, 1948, 1950), Ron Branton (1960, 1961, 1962), Neville Crowe (1963, 1964, 1966), Geoff Raines (1978, 1980, 1981)
