LUKE Ryan's superb season in a new key defensive post has seen him rewarded with his first Doig Medal as Fremantle's club champion. 

The former VFL defender, who was recruited as a 20-year-old with pick No.66 in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft, was a backline saviour in 2020 and a runaway winner on Thursday night with 207 votes.  

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Named in the 2020 Virgin Australia AFL All-Australian team, Ryan played on the AFL's best forwards after season-ending injuries to key defenders Alex Pearce and Joel Hamling. 

He combined those duties with his usual ability to intercept and rebound, ranking 11th in the AFL for metres gained (408.8m) and averaging 18.6 disposals and 5.2 marks. 

It was Ryan's third top-10 finish in the Doig Medal after polling fifth in 2018 and sixth last season. 

He was a clear standout for the Dockers in 2020, winning by a massive 40 votes from captain Nat Fyfe (167 votes). Fyfe, a three-time Doig medallist, won last year's count by a margin of 34. 

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The progress of the Dockers' young midfielders was evident at Crown Perth with prized pair Adam Cerra and Andrew Brayshaw each polling 150 votes alongside veteran David Mundy. 

Cerra was awarded third place using the Dockers' countback system, which uses games polled to determine the final order. 

The third-year Docker polled in 17 of a possible 17 games, ahead of Brayshaw (16) and Mundy (14). 

Mundy's remarkable consistency was also evident in his 10th top-five finish in the past 12 seasons. 

Key forward Matt Taberner, who was named in the 40-man All-Australian squad after a career-best year, finished sixth, ahead of defender Ethan Hughes, who won the Players' Trademark Award. 

Five-time leading goalkicker Michael Walters, first-year star Caleb Serong, and recruit James Aish rounded out the top 10. 

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Serong, who won the NAB AFL Rising Star award after a brilliant first season, was named the Dockers' best first-year player, winning the Beacon Award. 

Life membership was awarded to former defenders Dale Kickett and Roger Hayden, who played 135 and 128 games for the club respectively.  

2020 Doig Medal top 10  

1. Luke Ryan (207)
2. Nat Fyfe (167)
3. Adam Cerra (150)
4. Andrew Brayshaw (150)
5. David Mundy (150)
6. Matt Taberner (125)
7. Ethan Hughes (124)
8. Michael Walters (120)
9. Caleb Serong (103)
10. James Aish (94)