GWS Giants star Tim Taranto has shaded AFL All-Australian forward Jeremy Cameron and fellow midfielder Jacob Hopper, in a titanic three-man tussle for the Kevin Sheedy Medal, the Giants’ club champion award.
Coleman medallist Cameron led by one vote at the end of the regular season and by two heading into the grand final.
Taranto, one of just three Giants to play every game in 2019, finished on 222 votes, ahead of Cameron (220) and Hopper (218).
It was a first Sheedy Medal for the 21-year-old third-season Giant, who led the club in disposal and clearance tallies and together with Hopper stepped up to become major midfield leaders in the absence of injured stars Callan Ward and Stephen Coniglio.
Taranto, who came second behind Richmond’s Dustin Martin in the AFL’s best player of the finals voting, also won the Giants’ defensive award.
Other winners included tagger Matt de Boer (coaches award), forward Brent Daniels (rising star) and key defender Nick Haynes (members and fans MVP).