STAR ruckman Dean Cox has capped a stellar 2008 campaign being named the West Coast Eagles club champion for the first time in his 167-game career.
Cox, 27, further cemented himself as the AFL's best ruckman last month when he was named All-Australian for the fourth consecutive year. And he was a convincing winner at the Burswood Entertainment Complex on Friday night, victorious with 450 votes from Quinten Lynch (360) and Adam Selwood (315).
Amazingly, Cox fractured his foot in round three yet went on to play all 22 games averaging 22 disposals and 26 hitouts a game.
The premiership ruckman was elevated from West Coast's rookie list in 2000 and made his debut in 2001. His previous best finish on club champion night was third (2004, 2005) with the honour being shared by past greats Ben Cousins and Chris Judd for six of the past seven years.
Lynch was rewarded for an impressive season in which he plugged holes as a back-up ruckman and midfielder. The former full-forward became West Coast's most damaging midfielder late in the season, averaging more than 23 possessions between rounds 16 and 22.
Ben McKinley, the 21-year-old who took Lynch's place in the goal square, won the club's goalkicking and rookie of the year awards.
McKinley entered the season with just one game to his name but went on to boot 42 goals from 18 games.
- Dean Cox – 450 votes
- Quinten Lynch – 360
- Adam Selwood – 315
- Andrew Embley – 281
- Darren Glass – 269
- Matt Priddis – 266
- Mark Nicoski – 258
- David Wirrpanda – 238
- Tyson Stenglein – 229
- Ben McKinley – 225
Chris Mainwaring Medal (Best Clubman) – Jaymie Graham
Leading Goalkicker – Ben McKinley (42 goals)
