Adelaide superstar Rory Laird has claimed his third Malcolm Blight Medal after a phenomenal 2022 season.
The Crows No. 29 was dominant in Adelaide’s midfield and finished second in the League for disposals per game (33).
Laird finished the 2022 season with elite averages in disposals, handballs, tackles, clearances and fantasy points.
Despite a late start to the season due to a broken hand, Laird returned in Round Three and played a vital part in the narrow win over rivals Port Adelaide.
In Round 18 against Collingwood, Laird broke the AFL’s tackles record in a single game with 20.
On two occasions, he surpassed 40 disposals in a single game - Round 14 against Gold Coast and Round 17 against Hawthorn, both with 42 touches.
Laird is the fourth Crow to win three Club Champion Awards - alongside Mark Ricciuto, Andrew McLeod and Simon Goodwin.
Laird finished with 118 votes in the tally, ahead of Jordan Dawson with 114 votes in second and Ben Keays with 88 votes in third.
Adelaide’s Club Champion Award is calculated by coaches rating every player with a score from 1-10 after every game this season.
Laird was also awarded the Players’ Trademark while Dawson took home the Members’ MVP Award.
Young midfielder Sam Berry was named the Mark Bickley Emerging Talent Award following a career-best disposals average per game (17.6) and a League-best 9.5 tackles per game.
Key forward Taylor Walker won a Club-record sixth Leading Goalkicker Award with 47 majors this season.
Ruckman Kieran Strachan was named the State League Best and Fairest with development midfielder Jay Boyle taking home the Dean Bailey Award.
Ben Keays was awarded the Dr Brian Sando OAM Trophy for outstanding professionalism and commitment to play at the highest level.
Defender Tom Doedee was also recognised for his dedication to the community with the Adelaide Crows Foundation Community Leadership Award.
Reilly O’Brien took home the Phil Walsh Best Team Man Award for outstanding commitment to Walsh’s ‘team-first’ ethos.
As announced earlier this year, Anne Hatchard was named Crows AFLW Club Champion for Season Six.
2022 Malcolm Blight Medal final Leaderboard:
- Rory Laird - 118 votes
- Jordan Dawson - 114 votes
- Ben Keays - 88 votes
- Taylor Walker - 82 votes
- Brodie Smith - 72 votes
- Darcy Fogarty - 71 votes
- Shane McAdam - 66 votes
- Tom Doedee - 66 votes
- Sam Berry - 64 votes
- Jake Soligo - 61 votes
