Essendon midfielder Jobe Watson has capped off a solid season by being awarded the 2009 Crichton Medal in front of more than 1300 people at Crown Palladium tonight.

 

In a career-best season, Watson stood up to the challenge of leading a young midfield in the absence of some of the side’s more experienced campaigners who battled with injury.

 
He joins an illustrious group of past winners including James Hird, Gary O'Donnell and his father Tim who won the award four times (1980, 1985, 1988, 1989). 
 

The 24-year-old missed only one game this season with an ankle injury and his consistency was evident in the voting where he polled in 15 of his 21 games.

 

His best performance came in Round 20 when he racked up 37 possessions, eight tackles and kicked one goal in the Bombers’ win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.

 

Matthew Knights said the best and fairest award was fitting recognition for Watson who continues to develop both on and off the field.

 

“First and foremost I think Jobe’s development over three or four years has been extraordinary,” Knights said.
“I’ve seen it up close from a young man playing at Bendigo in the forward pocket to a player who’s playing in the midfield in some of the biggest games of the year against St Kilda and Collingwood.
“His development has been sensational.  He has diligently become a real professional with the way he takes on his football both on and off the field and all the credit for that should go to him.""

Watson finished the count of 335 votes, 46 votes ahead of veteran defender Dustin Fletcher who polled 289 votes in his 18 games this season, while Brent Stanton finished in third place with 284 votes from his 22 games.

 

The 190cm midfielder was taken under the father-son rule with selection 40 in the 2002 national AFL draft. After debuting in 2003, Watson has played 94 games and has kicked 34 goals.

 

The final voting for the 2009 Crichton medal was:
 

1.      Jobe Watson – 335

2.      Dustin Fletcher – 289

3.      Brent Stanton – 284

4.      Patrick Ryder – 223

5.      Jason Winderlich – 220

6.      Tayte Pears – 204

7.      Ricky Dyson – 201

8.      Angus Monfries – 197

9.      Adam McPhee – 192

10.  Henry Slattery – 186

11.  Andrew Lovett – 185

12.  Nathan Lovett Murray – 154

13.  Michael Hurley – 142

14.  Andrew Welsh – 131

15.  Heath Hocking – 130

16.  Courtenay Dempsey - 127

17.  Brent Prismall – 109

18.  Matthew Lloyd – 94

19.  Alwyn Davey – 78

20.  Hayden Skipworth – 72

21.  Bachar Houli – 59

22.  Cale Hooker – 46

23.  David Zaharakis – 42

24.  Mark McVeigh – 39

25.  Scott Lucas – 39

26.  Jarrod Atkinson – 35

27.  Jay Neagle – 21

28.  Sam Lonergan – 18

29.  Kyle Reimers – 18

30.  Michael Quinn – 10

31.  Darcy Daniher - 5

 

Other award winners:
Bill Hutchison Award – Patrick Ryder
Lindsay Griffith’s Rising Star Award – Tayte Pears
Most Courageous – Patrick Ryder
Striving for Excellence – Jason Winderlich
Most Improved – Ricky Dyson
Leading Goal kicker – Matthew Lloyd
 
Click here to watch the Essendon players practice their routine for The Footy Show Grand Final episode. Don't forget to bid on Scott Lucas' 2009 playing jumper and other great memorabilia by simply clicking here.