Alex Jesaulenko Medal
Encyclopedia
The Alex Jesaulenko Medal refers to three unrelated medals in Australian rules football
, all named in honour of Alex Jesaulenko
, a legend in the Australian Football Hall of Fame
. The medals are currently awarded annually to the best player in the grand final of the AFL Canberra
league and to the winner of the Mark of the Year
in the Australian Football League
. In the 1990s a medal of the same name was awarded to the best player for The Allies representative team in State Of Origin
football.
in the Canberra Australian National Football League
. In recognition of his achievements in the VFL the league awards the Alex Jesaulenko Medal to the best player in the Grand Final each year. In 2008 the award was won by Nicholas Smith.
in recognition of Jesaulenko's famous mark in the 1970 VFL Grand Final
, one of the most recognisable spectacular marks of all time.
football, the medal was awarded to the best player on the ground for The Allies representative team. It was only awarded from 1995 to 1998, when The Allies team, consisting of players not from the major football states of Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. It honoured Jesaulenko's Canberra origins being outside of the major Australian football states and hence would have qualified to play for The Allies had the concept existed during his career.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
, all named in honour of Alex Jesaulenko
Alex Jesaulenko
Alex 'Jezza' Jesaulenko MBE is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. He is regarded as one of the game's greatest-ever players and is an official Legend of the Australian Football Hall of Fame...
, a legend in the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
. The medals are currently awarded annually to the best player in the grand final of the AFL Canberra
AFL Canberra
AFL Canberra is the governing body for Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory.In November 2010 the five AFL Canberra Premier Division clubs merged with the Premier Division clubs of the Queensland Australian Football League to form the North East Australian Football League...
league and to the winner of the Mark of the Year
Mark of the Year
The annual Mark of the Year competition is a sporting award that celebrates each season's best mark...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. In the 1990s a medal of the same name was awarded to the best player for The Allies representative team in State Of Origin
Interstate matches in Australian rules football
Australian rules football matches between teams representing Australian colonies/states and territories have been held since 1879. For most of the 20th century, the absence of a national club competition and international matches meant that football games between state representative teams were...
football.
AFL Canberra
Jesaulenko started his football career with the Eastlake Football ClubEastlake Football Club
Eastlake Football Club is a semi-professional Australian rules football club based in the inner-south of Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory. They compete in the North East Australian Football League.-Championship Success:...
in the Canberra Australian National Football League
AFL Canberra
AFL Canberra is the governing body for Australian rules football in the Australian Capital Territory.In November 2010 the five AFL Canberra Premier Division clubs merged with the Premier Division clubs of the Queensland Australian Football League to form the North East Australian Football League...
. In recognition of his achievements in the VFL the league awards the Alex Jesaulenko Medal to the best player in the Grand Final each year. In 2008 the award was won by Nicholas Smith.
Mark of the Year
In recent years the AFL has awarded the Alex Jesaulenko Medal to the winner of the Mark of the YearMark of the Year
The annual Mark of the Year competition is a sporting award that celebrates each season's best mark...
in recognition of Jesaulenko's famous mark in the 1970 VFL Grand Final
1970 VFL Grand Final
The 1970 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Carlton Football Club and Collingwood Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 26 September 1970. It was the 74th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine...
, one of the most recognisable spectacular marks of all time.
State of Origin
In State of OriginInterstate matches in Australian rules football
Australian rules football matches between teams representing Australian colonies/states and territories have been held since 1879. For most of the 20th century, the absence of a national club competition and international matches meant that football games between state representative teams were...
football, the medal was awarded to the best player on the ground for The Allies representative team. It was only awarded from 1995 to 1998, when The Allies team, consisting of players not from the major football states of Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. It honoured Jesaulenko's Canberra origins being outside of the major Australian football states and hence would have qualified to play for The Allies had the concept existed during his career.
Winners
- 1995 - Ryan O'ConnorRyan O'ConnorRyan O'Connor is a former Australian rules football player. He is best known for playing for the Essendon Bombers and Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League, however finished his career in the SANFL with the Port Adelaide Magpies where he won the Magarey Medal.O'Connor, from Ulverstone,...
- 1996 - Matthew RichardsonMatthew Richardson (Australian rules footballer)Matthew "Richo" Richardson , is a retired professional Australian rules footballer who played for Richmond in the Australian Football League...
- 1997 - Nathan BuckleyNathan BuckleyNathan Charles Buckley is a former professional Australian rules football player, commentator and coach, best known for his time as captain of the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
- 1998 - Shane CrawfordShane CrawfordShane Barry Crawford is a former Australian rules footballer, having played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League...