Geelong stars Jeremy Cameron and Cameron Guthrie have been bestowed one of the biggest honours in footy after being crowned joint best-and-fairests in a premiership year.
In what was just the second tie in the Carji Greeves Medal’s history, Cameron and Guthrie finished equal atop the leaderboard on 113 votes, nine clear of third-placed utility Mark Blicavs (104), while the ageless Tom Hawkins (98) and boom recruit Tyson Stengle (97) rounded out the top five.
Cameron had already compiled a stellar AFL career in his 10 years prior to season 2022, but he arguably went to yet another level this year in producing a season for the ages.
Jeremy Cameron on grand final day.Credit:AFL Photos / Getty Images
The former Giant was widely regarded as the best player in the competition this season as he booted 65 goals and registered career-highs in both disposals (388 at an average of 16 per game) and Brownlow votes (19), collecting a third All-Australian, second club best-and-fairest and his first premiership medal in the process.
Hawkins (67) was the only other player in the AFL to end the season with more goals than Cameron, who also finished third in the competition for marks inside 50 (70) and eighth for goal assists (21).
Meanwhile, Guthrie continued to enhance his reputation as one of the pre-eminent midfielders in the competition by finishing the year first at the Cats for disposals and contested possessions, equal first for clearances and second for tackles to win his second Carji Greeves Medal in three years.
Cam Guthrie gets clear of Daniel McStay.Credit:AFL Photos / Getty Images
The vastly-improved Tom Atkins (94 votes) capped off a breakout season by finishing sixth, skilful defender Zach Tuohy (93) was seventh, while pressure forward Brad Close (79), Rising Star runner-up Sam De Koning (77) and his defensive partner-in-crime Tom Stewart (76) completed the top 10.
Cameron, Blicavs, Hawkins, Stengle and Stewart all earned All-Australian blazers this year.
