FIRST – Bernie Vince (Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy) – 328 votes

“It was honestly a really tough time for me to leave Adelaide and I can’t thank one person enough. I thanked Dawsey a lot last year so this year it’s going to be Nathan Jones. He made it bloody tough for me to get to know him early but this year I’ve created a bond with him and his family that I’ll never ever forget. I think that’s why I’ve had such a good season this year- it’s how close we’ve worked together and challenged each other at times and I thank him for that.”

Second – Jack Viney (Syd Anderson Memorial Trophy) – 327 votes

“I’m really proud of the season I had. Coming back from injury and then obviously playing some really consistent footy, it doesn’t happen without a pretty strong support group. I’d like to start with thanking my parents. Firstly to my dad for keeping me on the list, thank you. To my mother, I can’t thank you enough for your unconditional love and support. The awards I’m winning tonight are a reflection of how you’ve raised me and I’m so thankful for everything you’ve done for me.”

Third – Tom McDonald (Ron Barassi Senior Memorial Trophy) – 300 votes

“One of the proudest moments of my whole life was a couple of weeks ago when my little brother (Oscar McDonald) got to play AFL for the first time in the same team as I did. The little fella ran out there against Freo in pretty tough condition and did a bloody good job and then we got to play in our first win a couple of weeks ago. Mate, it’s a surreal feeling and I’m really proud of you. We’ve had a good year and I hope that we can be up here for another 10 or 15 years together.”

Fourth – Jesse Hogan (Ivor Warne Smith Memorial Trophy) – 286 votes

“To touch on what most of the boys and Roosy and the coaches who have stood up here tonight have said, I’m just super excited for 2016. We’ve got the coaches at our disposal and the players are driven. We showed good signs this year and didn’t get the amount of wins we wanted but internally, I think we know where we can get to and if we just have the confidence and belief, then the sky’s the limit and we can win as many games as we believe we can.”

Fifth – Nathan Jones (Dick Taylor Memorial Trophy) – 270 votes

“As you can probably feel, the undertone to the entire night is the direction we’re heading in and for us to become a finals footy team. I couldn’t be more excited about the direction that this footy club is heading in. I know that we’ve got a young group of players who are coming through and some senior players who are really driven to ensure that we lead these guys into the next era of this footy club where not only do we reach the pinnacle but we create some sustained success.” 

Norm Smith Memorial Trophy (Coaches Award): Jack Viney

“To my teammates, it’s been said that we have a really young group and I’ve never been more excited about the direction of the football club. We’re starting to get that nucleus of young players who are willing to be competitive and who are willing to sacrifice so much for the Club. I’m so thankful to be a part of it and I know we’re going to win a premiership sooner rather than later.”

Ron Barassi Jnr Trophy (Leadership Award): Jack Trengove and Daniel Cross

Cross: “I’ve been involved in leadership groups since 2006. Leadership isn’t something that has come easy to me. I guess the thing that I did have in my corner is the way I train and the way I go about my footy- it means the world to me, I love it and I’m going to miss it.”

Trengove: “My biggest focus this year was just to come in with a positive attitude and to try and achieve something every day. I tried to make sure that I wasn’t having any negative influences on the group. I think that’s the way that Ron went about his life and his footy as well, just to make sure that he was always having an impact and to always ensure that the team’s going forward.”

Harold Ball Memorial Trophy (Best Young Player): Jesse Hogan

“Every player who played this year deserved it and there were probably five or six worthy winners of this award which in previous years, we probably didn’t have that. This year the boys have come in and it’s a credit to the recruiting staff, they’ve changed their mentality- it’s not so much on the talent but on the mindset and that competitive edge that not a lot of players have and I don’t think they could have done it any better.”

Ian Ridley Memorial Trophy (Club Ambassador Award): Neville Jetta

“I don’t do the stuff I do for awards; I do it because I love it and because of the legacy left by Aaron Davey, who is here in the room tonight. He was a massive role model from my time walking into the footy club and the stuff he did off the field for our people set a great path for me to follow. I’m trying to follow it as best I can and I’ll continue to do so.”

James McDonald Trophy (Heart and Spirit Award): Jack Viney

“It’s an absolute honour to win this award named after James McDonald. I never got to play with James but I’ve heard plenty of stories from the boys who did. He was individual who had really high standards and was ruthless in holding the players accountable to that. He was also a really balanced individual who had a bit of a laugh and got along with the boys so it’s honour to win this award.

Troy Broadbridge Memorial Trophy (Best Melbourne-listed player in the VFL): Aidan Riley

“I’m really honoured and proud to win this award tonight and I know that we’re building a great one-club culture out at Casey at the moment. I ‘ve loved my footy at the Scorpions this year. Plappy (Justin Plapp), the influence that you’ve had at Melbourne and Casey this year has been huge. You’ve helped me with your positivity and honesty and I just really trust you as a person so thanks for that, you’ve been great.”

Best Female Player Award: Daisy Pearce

“I thank all of you for not only improving me as a footballer and person so that I stand up here tonight receiving the Melbourne Football Club’s Best Female Player for the first time but also for the role you have played in giving all of my teammates and generations of women and girls after us, the opportunity to play AFL footy at the highest level. The AFL has announced that they are committed to creating a national women’s competition which means that in 30 or 40 years time, football people will tell of how the Melbourne Football Club wrote the rules to the game, no doubt they’ll still talk about Ron Barassi and Jim Stynes, but they will also talk about how the Melbourne Football Club were pioneers and started the first AFL women’s team.”