Prestia captures Jack Dyer Medal

Star Richmond midfielder Dion Prestia has been rewarded for his consistently high level of performance throughout the 2019 season with an inaugural Jack Dyer Medal.

Prestia, who played all 25 games in the Tigers’ premiership year, took out the Best and Fairest award at tonight’s count held at a packed Crown Palladium ballroom.

He polled 91 votes, which was 12 more than brilliant playmaker Shane Edwards, who finished runner-up with 79 votes.

Our 2019 Jack Dyer medallist ⭐️✨ #JDM19 pic.twitter.com/yNa7cORDzE
— Richmond FC (@Richmond_FC) October 1, 2019

Top defender Dylan Grimes was third on 75 votes, another gun backman, Nick Vlastuin, came fourth with 70 votes, while powerhouse key forward Tom Lynch filled fifth place on 69 votes.

Prestia’s exemplary consistency was underlined by him polling Jack Dyer Medal votes in every match this season.

He received maximum votes 10 times, including a superb ‘perfect’ sequence from Round 19 to the preliminary final victory over Geelong.

The 26-year-old averaged 27.4 disposals, 5.9 clearances, 4.9 inside-50s, 4.9 tackles, 6.5 score involvements, 3.4 tackles and 459.8 metres gained per game.

On 10 occasions, he racked up 30 disposals or more, with a season-high 35 against Collingwood in Round 19 at the MCG, and v Carlton in Round 21 at the ‘G’.

Among the Richmond playing group, Prestia was ranked No. 1 for disposals, No. 1 for contested possessions, No. 1 for clearances, No. 1 for tackles, No. 1 for metres gained, No. 2 for centre clearances, No. 2 for inside-50s, No. 2 for score involvements and equal No. 3 for metres gained.

Our top five of 2019 ✨ #gotiges pic.twitter.com/4ESigX5X2q
— Richmond FC (@Richmond_FC) October 1, 2019

Edwards claimed the Jack Titus Medal for his career-high, second-placed Richmond Best and Fairest finish.

He averaged 21.9 disposals, 3.6 clearances, 3.3 marks 3.1 tackles, 4.8 score involvements and 320.5 metres gained per match in his 24 games this season.

At Tigerland, he was ranked No. 3 for contested possessions, No. 3 for clearances, No. 3 for centre clearances, equal No. 3 for tackles, No. 4 for disposals, No. 4 for intercepts and No. 4 for metres gained.

Grimes, who was awarded the Maurie Fleming Medal, averaged 12.9 disposals, 5.4 marks, 6.9 intercepts, 6.4 one-percenters and 2.9 rebound-50s across the 24 games he played.

He was the No. 1 ranked Richmond player for one-percenters, No. 2 for contested marks, No. 2 for intercepts, No. 4 for rebound-50s, No. 4 for marks, and he also was selected in the All-Australian team for the first time.

Vlastuin, who received the Fred Swift Medal, averaged 19.1 disposals, 6.5 marks, 7.6 intercepts, 4.9 rebound-50s, 2.9 tackles and 320.1 metres gained in his 24 games.

He was ranked No. 1 among the Tigers’ playing group for marks, No. 1 for rebound-50s, No. 1 for intercepts, No. 3 for contested marks, No. 4 for one-percenters and No. 5 for metres gained.

Lynch, the Kevin Bartlett Medallist, played every game, averaging 10.8 disposals, 5.0 marks, 2.5 goals and 6.4 score involvements.

At Tigerland, he was ranked No. 1 for goals, No. 1 for contested marks, No. 1 for marks inside 50, No. 2 for tackles inside 50, No. 3 for goal assists, No. 3 for score involvements and No. 5 for total marks.

Marlion Pickett, who made a stunning debut with Richmond in the Grand Final triumph over Greater Western Sydney, was rewarded with the maximum five Jack Dyer Medal votes.

Under the Jack Dyer Medal voting system, all of the team’s players on match day receive a rating from 0-5 based on their overall performance.

The match committee assesses each player’s offensive, defensive and contest impacts on the game.

After those game phases have been analysed, the 0-5 rating is given, as a joint match committee decision.

Votes are not allocated for what the match committee deems a below-average performance.

2019 Jack Dyer Medal top 20

1^st Dion Prestia, 91 votes

2^nd Shane Edwards, 79 votes