Gaff wins Eagles best and fairest in AFL

An untimely thigh injury to West Coast midfielder Matt Priddis has proved costly with fellow on-baller Andrew Gaff pipping him to take out the AFL club’s best and fairest award.

Gaff won the John Worsfold medal with 210 votes, narrowly edging out Priddis (206).

Coleman Medal winner Josh Kennedy (183) finished third while Luke Shuey (174) and Mark LeCras (163) rounded out the top five.

Priddis was the favourite to win the award after finishing runner-up in the Brownlow medal count to Fremantle’s Nat Fyfe.

And he probably would have won had he not missed the qualifying final win over Hawthorn through injury.

Under the voting system, each player can earn a maximum of 15 votes each game.

Gaff was a deserving winner after producing a season in which he averaged 29.5 possessions across 25 games, as well as booting a career-best 11 goals.

The 23-year-old, who tallied 34 disposals in the grand final loss to Hawthorn, also won his maiden All-Australian jumper this season.

Kennedy won the Chris Mainwaring Award as best clubman, while second-year midfielder Dom Sheed won the rookie of the year award.

Defender Brad Sheppard was named player of the finals.

JOHN WORSFOLD MEDAL TOP 10

* 1 Andrew Gaff – 210

* 2 Matt Priddis – 206

* 3 Josh Kennedy – 183

* 4 Luke Shuey – 174

* 5 Mark LeCras – 163

* 6 Brad Sheppard – 161

* 7 Jamie Cripps – 158

* 8 Nic Naitanui – 156

* 9 Sharrod Wellingham – 133

* 10 Elliot Yeo – 129

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