Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury has made history, becoming the first man to win four consecutive Copeland Trophies. The silky on-baller edged first-year Magpie and fellow midfielder Adam Treloar in Friday night's count at Crown Casino.
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The victory was Pendlebury's fifth Collingwood best and fairest title, bringing him level with Brownlow medallist Len Thompson. Only club great and current Magpies coach Nathan Buckley - with six Copeland Trophies - is ahead of the pair.
Despite enduring broken ribs early in the season - an ailment that forced him temporarily to half-back - Pendlebury enjoyed another stellar season, averaging nearly 29 disposals across 2016. He led the club in contested possessions, and finished second to Treloar in disposals, inside 50s and clearances. He received at least 10 votes in 10 games to help secure the award. Pendlebury, 28, also polled 17 Brownlow medal votes. It was the eighth consecutive year that he has received at least 13 votes. In addition to his four straight awards, Pendlebury also won the Copeland Trophy in 2011.
Former Greater Western Sydney star Treloar capped an impressive debut year at the Holden Centre, polling 145 votes to finish 19 behind the skipper. Treloar chose to join the Magpies despite also being hotly pursued by Richmond, and while neither of those sides made the finals, Collingwood's underwhelming year could not be attributed to the ex-Giant, who polled 21 votes in the Brownlow, while also being named in the 40-man All-Australian squad alongside Pendlebury.
Vice-captain Steele Sidebottom was rewarded for another strong season by finishing third with 115 votes. The break-out campaign of ruckman Brodie Grundy reaped the South Australian fourth place in the count with 100 votes, while another first-year Pie, former Melbourne high-flyer Jeremy Howe came fifth on 81 votes after a tidy start to his career in the Pies backline.
Mature-age recruit Josh Smith finished seventh in his maiden season at the Pies, an excellent showing given he began the year as a rookie. The Queenslander, 22, made his debut in the Anzac Day clash against Essendon and didn't miss a game thereafter, ending with 78 votes. Not surprisingly he also won the Harry Collier Trophy as the club's best first-year player.
Retirees Dane Swan, Alan Toovey and Brent Macaffer all received tributes at the gala dinner, with Macaffer also honoured with the Darren Millane Memorial best clubman award, and with the Joseph Wren Trophy as the Pies' VFL best and fairest.
2016 E.W. Copeland Trophy Top Ten
1. Scott Pendlebury, 164 votes (E.W. Copeland Trophy)*
2. Adam Treloar, 145 (R.T. Rush Trophy)
3. Steele Sidebottom, 115 (J.J. Joyce Trophy)
4. Brodie Grundy, 100 (J.F. McHale Trophy)
5. Jeremy Howe, 81 (Jack Regan Trophy)
6. Taylor Adams, 79
7. Josh Smith, 78
8. Levi Greenwood, 73
9. Jack Crisp, 66
10. Jarryd Blair, 60
*Pendlebury has won the E.W. Copeland Trophy in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Darren Millane Memorial Trophy (Best Clubman)
Brent Macaffer
Harry Collier Trophy (Best First Year Player)
Josh Smith
Gavin Brown Award (Players' Player)
Scott Pendlebury
Gordon Coventry Award (Leading Goal Kicker)
Alex Fasolo (25 goals)
Joseph Wren Trophy (VFL Best & Fairest)
Brent Macaffer
Phonse Kyne Award (Services to the Club)
Neil Price
