In a packed house at Melbourne’s Arts Centre, Jimmy ‘Moose’ Munro made it three straight Gardner Clark Medals, this time in a premiership year, while VFLW skipper Sammie Johnson capped off a whirlwind year with a best and fairest award.
The pair were the toast of the Demons last night as they led a booming pack of award winners from a successful year for Casey.
Munro (137 votes) edged out Melbourne-listed midfielder Luke Dunstan (133 votes) and skipper Mitch White (132) to claim his third successive Gardner Clark Medal in a tight vote count.
With Melbourne-listed players Kade Chandler (121 votes) and Oskar Baker (113) rounding out the top five in a successful year for the VFL side, Munro paid credit to Casey’s even squad and the support staff for an incredible year that saw the Demons break their 23-year VFL premiership drought.
On the VFLW side, now Melbourne AFLW-listed player Sammie Johnson stormed home in the back half of the year to take home the best and fairest award with 122 votes.
She finished comfortably ahead of the second-placed Tahlia Fellows (87) votes and Lucy Wales (69), while Mel Hogg (60) and Steph Wales (51) made up the top five in a campaign that saw Casey fall short to the Saints in a preliminary final.
Johnson and VFLW coach Peter Mercoulia were quick to congratulate the entire program for its success, as the Demons’ VFLW squad won its first final in its history this year.
To start the night, Mitch White, Munro and former defender Daniel Rigg all received the badge of life membership at the Casey Football Club after storied careers for the Scorpions and Demons.
In the VFLW awards, Mel Hogg deservedly won the Trademark and Values Award for her persistence in a wonderful season, while young Steph Wales won the VFLW Rising Star award for a stellar campaign that saw her become an AFLW player by the end of the year.
After facing the heartbreak of being delisted by Melbourne before Casey’s finals series, Maeve Chaplin’s remarkable finals campaign that saw her re-join the Dees for the 2022 AFLW season was rewarded with the best finals player award.
On the VFL side, the premiership celebrations continued for veteran and former GWS Giant Matt Buntine, who took home the VFL Trademark and Values Award for his superb debut year with the Demons.
Roan Steele was stiff to miss out on a spot in Casey’s VFL Grand Final team, but was rewarded for a breakout campaign with the VFL Steve Harrison Rising Star trophy.
Mitch White was also recognised yet again for reaching 100 games for the Demons in 2022, before adding to his trophy cabinet further with the Best Finals Player award that resulted in a Norm Goss Medal on Grand Final day.
Along with a third-placed finish, White got to see great mate Jimmy Munro take home another Gardner Clark Medal, with the premiership side finishing the night up on stage to continue the celebrations.
