The Launceston Football Club has been awarding a Best & Fairest medal/trophy dating back to 1926 (minus 1942-44 due to World War II) . The award has been originally known as the A.D. Freeland Memorial Roll, but has recently changed to be known as the McAuley Medal, named after 7 time premiership player/coach, Leo McAuley (pictured below).
There have so far been 88 Best & Fairest awards handed out, with 70 different winners. The 86th award was due to the only so far duel winners in 1953 when Phillip Tabe & John Mackey both shared the honours.
Leo McAuley began his football career with South Launceston and joined the Blues in 1924, winning his first Premiership in his first year at the club, going onto win a 2nd in 1926 . In 1929 Leo was appointed Captain of the Launceston Football Club and went on win the Premiership that year, his 3rd. He was also Captain-Coach of the Blues next premiership side in 1933, taking over the reigns as Coach during the season from K.Roberts. He retired from playing that season, an outstanding player, he gave the Blues a then club record 203 games during his playing career. Retiring from playing didn’t stop Leo from racking up Premierships, as he lead the team as Coach in the 1934, 1935 and 1936 Premierships. Leo retired as Coach at the end of the 1936 season.
Leo was awarded Life Membership of the Club in 1934 for his outstanding service to the club and would go down as the most successful coach in the club’s history, with Premierships in 1933-36. He also represented the NTFA on many occassions and in 1937 he received Life Membership of the NTFA for his services to football. Leo was selected as back pocket in the Launceston FC Team of the Century and received the most significant honour of being named as Coach.
McAuley Statistics:
Congratulations to the 2018 McAuley Medal Winner – Dylan Riley
Complete list of Launceston FC Best and Fairest Winners
2018 – Dylan Riley
2017 – Brodie Palfreyman
2016 – Joe Groenewegen
2015 – Jake Smith
2014 – Joe Groenewegen
2013 – Scott Stephens
2012 – Kurt McCabe
2011 – Scott Stephens
2010 – Scott Stephens
2009 – Scott Stephens
Was Known as the A.D Freeland Memorial Prior to 2009
2008 – Adam Derbyshire
2007 – Beau Green
2006 – Scott Stephens
2005 – Adam Derbyshire
2004 – Anthony Taylor
2003 – Adam Sanders
2002 – Beau Green
2001 – Clayton Sturzaker
2000 – Kane Sanders
1999 – John Stedman
1998 – Kane Sanders
1997 – Vince Hennessy
1996 – Ken Rainsford
1995 – Brett Hadley
1994 – Chris Whitford
1993 – Chris Whitford
1992 – Craig Turmine
1991 – Phil Moir
1990 – Grant Tuthill
1989 – Darren Cook
1988 – Greg Eaves
1987 – Michael Cook
1986 – Allan Squires
1985 – Robert Dutton
1984 – Francis Woolley
1983 – Todd Lewis
1982 – Chris Carpenter
1981 – Ramon “Monty”Grima
1980 – Grant Allford
1979 – Robert Dutton
1978 – Wim Vaessen
1977 – Gary Davis
1976 – Paul Ellis
1975 – Garry Hiscox
1974 – Paul Ellis
1973 – Paul Vinar
1972 – Alby Dunn
1971 – Gary Davis
1970 – Ron Thomas
1969 – Kerry Coates
1968 – Phil Clemons
1967 – Graeme Wise
1966 – Barry Tuthill
1965 – Martin Anstee
1964 – John Archer
1963 – Robert Bye
1962 – Ray McVilly
1961 – John Archer
1960 – Robert Bye
1959 – Peter Hadley
1958 – Cliff Tabe
1957 – Cliff Tabe
1956 – Keith Caelli
1955 – Brian Yost
1954 – W.D.Keegan
1953 – Phillip Tabe & John Mackey
1952 – R.J.Davis
1951 – Darrell Crosswell
1950 – Jack Yost
1949 – Jack Yost
1948 – Ross McCrimmon
1947 – Lance Crosswell
1946 – Lance Crosswell
1945 – H.W.Black
1942 -1944 WW2
1941 – R.T.Thomson
1940 – William Gurr
1939 – Tom Ryan
1938 – Tom Ryan
1937 – Trevor Ranson
1936 – Keynan William Cahill
1935 – Doug Wheeler
1934 – Roy Cooper
1933 – Keynan William Cahill
1932 – Horace Oliver
1931 – Ron Ward
1930 – S.Ryan
1929 – Albert Waddle
1928 – Jim Milbourne
1927 – Neil Edwards
1926 – Keith Kitt