MAX Gawn has taken out the Gardner Clark Medal for the Casey Scorpions best and fairest.

The ruckman racked up 70 votes from eight VFL matches to claim the award ahead of Scorpions player Evan Panozza.

Fellow Melbourne player Jordie McKenzie took third place with 65 votes while first-year Demon Viv Michie finished fourth on 45 votes.

In his eight showings for Casey, Gawn averaged 19.6 disposals, 48.6 hitouts and a goal per game, with highlights including an 80-hitout performance against Bendigo Gold in Round 14 and four goals against Frankston in Round 15.

Gawn had already received the Troy Broadbridge Memorial Trophy for best Melbourne-listed player in the VFL.

After a slow start to the season due to a serious hamstring injury over summer, the ruckman was in-and-out of Melbourne’s senior side before locking down his spot late in the year and playing the final four AFL matches of 2014.

It was the big man’s final stint in the VFL which proved his most telling, with an increased focus on his work around-the-ground paying dividends.

Gawn booted six goals over three games, while also averaging 22.3 disposals and 58.7 hitouts over the same period.

Returning to the senior side in Round 20, Gawn locked down his spot in the side and played the final four AFL matches of 2014.