Football Best & Fairest Seniors

The award was first named the G. J. Coles Cup, then the W. Freeland Trophybefore its present title of J. A. Esam Medal in 1982.  

1946J. MaguireSouth Juniors 
1947Paddy O’KeefeEast Stars 
 Stuart IslesWest End 
 Dudley MaslinMerrivale 
 Bill MaguireSouth Rovers 
1948Kevin O’KeefeEast Stars17
1949 Jack HawthorneSouth Rovers32
1950Kevin O’KeefeEast Stars21
1951 John DevlinSouth Rovers22
1952Kevin BrenRussells Creek21
1953Kevin BrenRussells Creek19
1954Gavin GleesonMerivale14
 Neil JohnstoneDennington14
1955Jim FitzgeraldSouth Rovers14
1956Lionel LovettDennington23
1957 Neville AndersTower Hill33
1958 Anthony RyanOld Collegians20
1959 Jim BushellTower Hill21
1960 Peter MaddenTower Hill14
 John CarmodyMerrivale14
1961  Brian PrimmerRussells Creek17
 Robert EdwardsBushfield17
1962Brian PrimmerRussells Creek16
 Les HawkinsOld Collegians16
 Noel LawsonSouth Rovers16
1963Norm McCullaghSouth Rovers25
1964Gerry LaneTower Hill27
1965Norm McCullaghSouth Rovers24
1966Ron ReedDennington26
1967Peter LakeWest End23
1968Basil RyanGrassmere19
 William DwyerTower Hill19
1969 Noel ThorntonDennington20
1970 Barry SullivanSouth Rovers25
1971Norm ThwaitesWest End-Allansford22
1972 Pat GleesonGrassmere20
1973Glendon HenryWest End-Allansford)18
1974Brendan MoloneyTower Hill26
1975Jeff GriffithsEast Warrnambool27
1976 Michael HamblinMerrivale21
1977Brendan MoloneyTower Hill24
1978 Frank KingTower Hill25
1979 Michael HamblinMerrivale23
1980 Terry CarrWest End-Allansford29
1981Gary McLeodGrassmere22
 J. A. Esam Medal  
1982 Wayne CoxDennington33
1983Wayne CoxDennington23
1984Wayne CoxDennington30
1985 Wayne CoxDennington18
1986Peter DoolanOld Collegians22
1987Iain JacksonRussells Creek15
 Don SteelWest End-Allansford15
 Jamie DarmodyNorthern Districts15
1988 John LyonsEast Warrnmabool28
1989Robert MifsudOld Collegians22
1990Murray TurnerDennington27
1991David CassidyMerrivale26
1992Gary RowbottomWest End-Allansford26
1993Ken WinesNorthern Districts20
1994Dean PickenSouth Rovers19
 Jason PorterMerrivale19
1995Simon CrossEast Warrnambool28
1996Dean PickenSouth Rovers25
1997  Leo DuynhovenOld Collegians21
1998Jamie NeaveMerrivale21
1999Jodie BailieRussells Creek24
2000Peter HobbsPanmure25
2001Jamie SquiresDennington23
2002Brad SheenAllansford20
2003Chris MorrisonDeakin University23
2004Matt ScobleEast Warrnambool22
2005Troy RichardsonOld Collegians22
2006Klint WagstaffTimboon Demons26
2007Matthew SteelAllansford37
2008Matthew SteelAllansford30
2009Luke MaddenKolora-Noorat32
2010Jye BidmadePanmure35
2011Bradley JohnsonKolora-Noorat24
2012Corey RoundsKolora-Noorat31
 Nicholas JohnstoneAllansford31
2013Brad McCoshSouth Rovers25
2014Nicholas JohnstoneAllansford22
2015Josh SobeyMerrivale19
2016Joseph ConheadyKolora-Noorat22
2017Scott LenehanOld Collegians25
2018Andrew McMeelRussells Creek25
2019Andrew McMeelRussells Creek19
2020No games played due toCovid-19
2021Scott CarlinNirranda24
2022Blair McCutcheonMerrivale22
2023John PaulinNirranda30
2024Logan McLeodRussells Creek19