Phelan Medal

2023 Phelan Medallist’s; Harry Maguire (Pennant Hills Demons), Ned Campbell (North Shore Bombers), & Kale Gabila (Manly Warringah Wolves). Photo courtesy of Nigel Owen

The Phelan Medal was first awarded in 1926 for the player voted the best and fairest in the Sydney First Grade Competition. It was initially called the Ellis Medal, after the person who donated the award, E J Ellis, and at the time, the medal was forged in pure gold.

By 1932 the name had changed to the Provan Trophy after the league president of the time, A D S Provan, who also donated medallion. In 1937 the trophy was again renamed, this time to the Phelan Medal in recognition of the work, effort and commitment, Jim Phelan, acknowledged as the father of football in Sydney, had given to the code. The medal then was no longer donated but purchased by the league.

Because of WWII, the award was suspended between 1942-45 however when its presentation was resumed in 1946, the voting format had temporarily changed and as well, no actual medal was bestowed. It was not until the mid-fifties that the presentation of an actual medal was resumed and this ceremony would take place at half time of the first grade grand final. Then, the winners of the first, reserve and later Under 18/19 grades would then run a lap of honour at the grand final venue prior to the commencement of the third quarter. This arrangement changed upon the introduction of the League’s Phelan Medal Night in 1972.

YEAR	NAME	CLUB	VOTES
2023	Harry Maguire	Pennant Hills Demons	18
	Ned Campbell	North Shore Bombers AFC	18
	Kale Gabila	Manly Warringah Wolves	18
2022	Noah Casalini	St George Dragons	11
	Mitchell Conn	UNSW-ES Bulldogs	11
	Jake Veale	North Shore Bombers	11
	Stephen Wray	Pennant Hills Demons	11
2020	Jake BARTHOLOMAEUS	Sydney University	16
2019	Ranga EDIRIWICKRAMA	Pennant Hills	16
2018	Shaun CRANE	North Shore	29
2017	Shaun CRANE	North Shore	15
2016	Jack DIMERY	East Coast Eagles	17
2015	Connor PETTERSSON	Manly Warringah	24
2014	Alex GOODALL	Pennant Hills	28
2013	Tyrone ARMITAGE	Manly Warringah	23
2012	Dane RAMPE	UNSW/ES	26
2011	Kieran WRIGHT	Pennant Hills	20
2010	Alex LEE	Sydney University	19
2009	Brydon COLES	Sydney University	19
2008	Matt CAREY	Pennant Hills	17
2007	Charlie RICHARDSON	Pennant Hills	16
2006	Troy LUFF	UNSW/ES	21
2005	Dean DAVIES	North Shore	22
2004	Stephen PECH	UNSW/ES	19
2003	Jason TURNER	Campbelltown	15
2002	Troy LUFF	Balmain	20
2001	Jason McPHERSON	UNSW/ES	16
2000	Mark MACKENZIE	Balmain	19
1999	Trevor BURNETT	Campbelltown	34
1998	Jarrod CROSBY	Baulkham Hills	22
1997	Simon WILSON	St George	16
1996	Joe CORMACK	Western Suburbs	21
1995	Graham JONES	Baulkham Hills	22
1994	Chris O’DWYER	East Sydney	28
1993	Tony QUINN	St George	20
1992	Darren OATES	St George	19
1992	Lee CAMPBELL	Campbelltown	19
1991	David WEST	St George	22
1990	Michael DAVIS	Sydney Uni	17
1990	Rod PODBURY	Campbelltown	17
1989	Michael PORTA	Holroyd-Parramatta	19
1988	Garry SPILLANE	Pennant Hills	21
1987	Rod PODBURY	Campbelltown	18
1986	Rod PODBURY	Campbelltown	16
1985	Frank GLEESON	Balmain	24
1984	Graham JONES	Western Suburbs	15
1983	Michael TOY	Pennant Hills	16
1983	Rod PODBURY	Bankstown Sports	16
1982	John PILKINGTON	Newtown	19
1981	Laurie AXFORD	East Sydney	23
1980	John PILKINGTON	Newtown	20
1979	Rob CLARIDGE	East Sydney	21
1978	Jack McCORMICK	Southern Districts	26
1977	Dale DALTON	St George	21
1976	Max HODGSON	Balmain	29
1975	George ALLEN	Western Suburbs	30
1974	Brian TYLER	South Sydney	20
1973	George ALLEN	Western Suburbs	22
1972	Paul BOUCHIER	Newtown	23
1971	Noel STEWART	Southern Districts	22
1970	Bob McDONALD	Balmain	21
1969	Brian TYLER	Eastern Suburbs	22
1968	Graham HODGE	Southern Districts	15
1967	Peter BODY	Sydney Naval	21
1966	Norm TUXFORD	Sydney Naval	20
1965	Noel READING	St George	15
1964	Ray GWILLIAM	South Sydney	24
1963	Ray SHARROCK	Western Suburbs	0
1962	Arthur CRISP	North Shore	3
1961	Ralph TURNER	Sydney Naval	24
1960	Tony WHISH-WILSON	Bankstown	20
1959	Ralph TURNER	South Sydney	37
1958	Kevin BATCHELOR	South Sydney	0
1957	Colin WALLER	Liverpool	17
1956	Ray MOORE	Balmain	0
1955	Wally BRYCE	Liverpool	20
1954	Wally BRYCE	Liverpool	19
1953	Geoff DAVIDSON	Sydney Uni	28
1952	Frank GASCOIGNE	South Sydney	23
1951	John HARDY	North Shore	34
1950	Ken GILBERT	Illawarra	0
1949	Ken GILBERT	Illawarra	0
1948	Ken CHAMPION	Western Suburbs	21
1947	Ken CHAMPION	North Shore	0
1946	Billy COTTIS	Newtown	5
1941	Cliff BARNSLEY	Sydney	27
1940	Cliff BARNSLEY	Sydney	37
1939	Jack GUTHRIE	North Shore	23
1938	Jack WILLIAMSON	Eastern Suburbs	0
1937	Jack WILLIAMSON	Eastern Suburbs	0
1936	Reg GARVIN	Newtown	0
1935	Jack WILLIAMSON	Eastern Suburbs	0
1934	Frank SMITH	South Sydney	0
1933	Jack WILLIAMSON	Eastern Suburbs	0
1932	Len HARRIS	St George	0
1931	George JENNER	St George	0
1930	David ELLLEMAN	North Shore	0
1929	Billy McKOY	Sydney	0
1928	Billy McKOY	Sydney	0
1927	Gordon KNOTT	Western Suburbs	0
1926	Bobby POWERS	Sydney	0