With the 2019 edition of the Syd Barker Club Champion Dinner just one more day away, we take a look at the awards on offer on Friday evening.
Syd Barker Club Champion
Syd Barker was one of North’s favourite sons in its early VAFA days, captaining the club for six seasons during his playing spell from 1909-1921, and the club’s best and fairest player award has been named after him since 1929.
After each match, the Senior Coach will vote 0-10 on each player, while the Assistant Coaches will collectively vote 0-10 on each player, with the maximum score a player can earn in one round equalling 20 votes.
A countback system has been introduced to separate players on the same number of votes, except in the case of dual-winners.
2018 winner - Shaun Higgins
Stream the Syd Barker Club Champion Dinner LIVE
John Law Medal (VFL Best & Fairest)
John Law played 219 senior games from 1978 to 1989 and is a former captain, reserves premiership player, reserves assistant coach and reserves coach.
The John Law Medal is awarded to the best and fairest player in the VFL, with the same voting system as the Syd Barker Medal.
2018 winner - Nick Rippon
Peter Scanlon Community Award
A major player in the “Keep North South” movement, Peter Scanlon is one of the key reasons North Melbourne is still in existence.
He has also contributed heavily towards North’s community arm, The Huddle.
The recipient of the Peter Scanlon Community Award exemplifies the spirit of giving, going the ‘extra mile’ on numerous occasions and to one that has made significant contributions to our community, which often goes unnoticed.
2018 winner - Emma Kearney
Life Membership
Life Membership is recommended by the NMFC Heritage Committee to the club’s board.
Players who have been on the senior list and completed 10 years of service are considered eligible for Life Membership.
For other nominees for Life Membership, they are considered by the Heritage Committee to have made a significant contribution to the club and recommended to the board for Life Membership.
2018 Life Members - Jack Ziebell, Robbie Tarrant, Sam Wright
Shinboner of the Year
The Shinboner of the Year award is presented to the player who best epitomises the club values – real, bold, belonging and never beaten.
2018 winner - Kayne Turner
Mazda Excellence Award
In 2019, NMFC.com.au again teamed up with Mazda to recognise the player that best illustrated the traits of class and elite performance.
The club’s fans and members vote each week, awarding their best players on 3-2-1 basis.
2018 winners - Ben Cunnington and Shaun Higgins
Harold Henderson Best Clubman Award.
Henderson was a vital founding member of the North Melbourne Social Club, and had a pavilion named after him at Arden Street, until the ground was redeveloped.
The Harold Henderson Best Clubman Award is for the player who epitomises everything about unselfishness, has a team-first attitude, goes beyond the call of duty, not just on the field for the 22 players selected each week, but for the whole playing list and club.
2018 winner - Jarrad Waite
The Best Young Player Award
The Best Young Player Award acknowledges those players who have been making their mark within the club and the AFL in the last two years. This award is voted by the North coaching staff.
2018 winner - Paul Ahern
VFL Best Clubman Award
The VFL Best Clubman Award is awarded to the player who has a team-first attitude, goes beyond the call of duty both on field and off field.
