The Doig Medal honours the deep football heritage of Fremantle, represented by the many members of the Doig family who played for East Fremantle or South Fremantle from the beginning of last century.
Fellow 2008 All Australian Aaron Sandilands capped off his stellar season with Fremantle, finishing three votes behind Pavlich in second place with 27 votes. Swingman Luke McPharlin replicated his 2007 Doig Medal count performance, again finishing in third place with 26 votes. NAB AFL Rising Star and AFL Players’ Association Best First Year Player Rhys Palmer rounded out the top four on 23 votes.
At the conclusion of every game in Season 2008 the performance of each player was assessed by the Match Committee and votes were awarded on a 4,3,2,1 basis with;
4 Votes for an Outstanding performance
3 Votes for an Excellent performance
2 Votes for a Very Good performance
1 Vote for a Good performance
Every player was able to receive votes if their performance was assessed by the Match Committee as being good, very good, excellent or outstanding for that game.
In yet another outstanding season, which saw him receive his sixth career All Australian selection, Pavlich led Fremantle’s goal kicking with 67 majors, as well as ranking in the club’s top five for kicks, marks, inside 50s and hard ball gets, despite missing three matches late in the season due to injury.
The year also saw Pavlich play a variety of roles as a key forward and attacking midfielder, exemplifying his ability to fill any position on the field and make an immediate impact when his ability to significantly influence matches was required.
Pavlich received ‘excellent’ ratings on four occasions this season – two of which came against West Coast when he was awarded the Ross Glendinning Medal in both Carlton Mid Derbies.
In arguably his best season yet with the Fremantle Football Club, Sandilands imposed himself on the AFL in Season 2008 as one of the competition’s most influential tap ruckmen, a feat that saw him earn his first career selection in the All Australian team.
His league leading 646 hit outs in 2008 is a Fremantle Football Club record and was 75 more than his closest challenger, fellow All Australian ruckman Dean Cox.
Such was Sandilands’ influence, he finished in Fremantle’s top five for handballs, hard ball gets and clearances in 2008 and was one of only three Fremantle players to appear in each of the club’s 22 home and away matches.
Fremantle’s Match Committee gave Sandilands maximum votes for his performance against Geelong on ANZAC Day in Round 6, which saw the 25-year-old collect 24 possessions, six marks, one goal and dominate the ruck with 42 hit outs.
The third placed McPharlin has carved a name for himself as one of the finest defenders in the AFL but has shown he can be just as reliable at the other end of the ground.
Playing as a key forward on several occasions, McPharlin kicked 21 goals this year including a five goal haul against West Coast in Round 18. When you couple his goal kicking ability with his solid defensive work when opposed to the league’s most dangerous forwards, there is no doubt that McPharlin is one of the AFL’s most versatile key position players.
McPharlin finished the 2008 season in Fremantle’s top five for goals and marks and was named at centre half back in the WA State of Origin team, which was also his fourth career selection in the WA line up.
McPharlin received three ‘excellent’ ratings from the club’s Match Committee for his performances in Round 1 against Collingwood at the MCG, Round 2 against Hawthorn at Subiaco Oval and Round 11 against Brisbane at the Gabba.
There have been few debut seasons in recent memory that rival that of Rhys Palmer’s. In just his first season of AFL football the 19 year old made 20 appearances for Fremantle and ended the season as the club’s highest possession getter with 462 and fourth in the Doig Medal count.
His ability to influence matches was identified early in the season when, in the absence of more experienced midfielders, Palmer was assigned the opposition’s best tagger. The close attention he commanded failed to impact his ability to win the ball, as he averaged 23 possessions per game in 2008.
His hard running, work ethic and ability to read the play will no doubt see Palmer become a cornerstone in what will be a revolutionary Fremantle midfield in Season 2009 and beyond.
Complementing his fourth place in the Doig Medal count, Palmer also claimed the prestigious 2008 Beacon Award as the club’s best new talent.
2008 Doig Medal Top 10
Matthew Pavlich 30 votes
Aaron Sandilands 27
Luke McPharlin 26
Rhys Palmer 23
Michael Johnson 21
Ryan Crowley 21
David Mundy 16
Byron Schammer 14
Roger Hayden 12
Garrick Ibbotson 11
Other Award Winners
Beacon Award
The Beacon Award is presented to the most outstanding young player for season 2008. This year’s Beacon Award winner is Rhys Palmer.
Best Clubman Award
The Best Clubman award is presented to a person that has made an outstanding contribution to the club both on and off the field. It is judged by the Football Department in consultation with the playing group.
The winner of the 2008 Best Clubman Award is Luke Webster.
On the field, Luke was restricted to just 4 WAFL matches in 2008 due to sustaining his fourth serious knee injury while playing for East Perth on April 5.
He underwent the revolutionary Ligament Augmentation Replacement Surgery which saw an industrial strength polyester ligament grafted into his knee to significantly shorten his recovery period.
While most would have wallowed away with self pity through sustaining such an injury for a fourth time, Luke devoted his time to assisting the club in a range of ventures, both football and commercial related, going above and beyond any expectation.
Luke’s willingness to rise above his own personal situation and make highly valued, passionate and genuine contributions to the Fremantle Football Club makes him a deserving winner of this award for the second time in three seasons.
Harbour Masters Award
The Harbour Masters are an inaugural supporter group of the Fremantle Football Club. This award recognises the “most popular” player as voted by the Harbour Masters.
The winner of the Harbour Masters Award for 2008 is Luke McPharlin.
Past Players and Officials Award
This award recognises a player whom has proven to be a role model and has contributed significantly to the club off the playing field whilst developing themselves for life after football.
The winner of the 2008 Past Players and Officials Award is Andrew Browne.
WAFL Recognition Award
This award recognises players that have played in the WAFL or AFL fixtures with high distinction whilst displaying an attitude that is professional and represents the club in an outstanding manner.
The winner of the 2008 WAFL Recognition Award is Brock O’Brien.
Leading Goal Kicker Award
The leading goal kicker for 2008 is Matthew Pavlich.
