Charlie Constable claimed the 2025 Sandover Medal in thrilling circumstances, polling three votes in the final round to jump ahead of Matt Parker in an heart-stopping count at Crown Perth’s Grand Ballroom on Monday night.
Constable polled 29 votes in total to finish two ahead of South Fremantle’s Parker and become the first Perth player in a decade to take the medal home. Aidan Tropiano was the last Demon to win the award in 2015.
Former Geelong and Gold Coast midfielder Constable was awarded votes in 13 of 18 games, including best-on-grounds in rounds five, seven, nine, 10, 17 and 20. However, it was his 36 disposal, one-goal outing against the Lions in round 20 which mattered the most as he overtook Parker.
For Parker it was heartbreak, with the midfielder missing the Bulldogs’ final round clash against West Coast at Mineral Resources Park with soreness, having held a one-vote lead heading into the final round.
East Fremantle midfielder Milan Murdock finished third on 23 votes, while 2023 winner Hamish Brayshaw was equal fourth on 21 votes, alongside Bulldog Tom Blechynden and Royals teammate Tom North.
Constable stormed to an incredible seven vote lead after the first 10 rounds, polling 20 votes to be ahead of Parker and Murdock.
Parker claimed three votes in three consecutive games from rounds 13 to 16 when he averaged 26 touches and kicked seven goals to take the lead before Constable polled three votes the next week to have both players level on 24 votes.
Constable regained the lead in round 18 when he polled two votes before Parker was best-on-ground in the round 19 win over West Perth to take back the slimmest of advantages heading into the final game, but he was a late omission that day leaving him stranded on 27 votes.
It allowed Constable to poll the three votes and get the win in his second season at the Demons. Constable’s 29 votes is also the most polled in a season since Claremont’s Bailey Rogers won with 30 in 2021. The 26-year-old averaged more than 30 disposals for the season as he led the Demons to just their second finals appearance this century and their first post-season victory in 28 years.
He joined the Demons in 2024, but was restricted to only 11 games that year because of an ankle injury.
Parker polled in 10 of his 17 games, including seven best on grounds on the back of a career-best year where he helped drive the Bulldogs to a grand final appearance.
The former St Kilda and Richmond player averaged 23 disposals and kicked 15 goals, to be one of the most damaging midfielders of 2025.
East Fremantle’s Murdock enjoyed his best Sandover finish with 23 votes, polling in 10 games.
Meanwhile, Perth’s Brodie Gray claimed the Prendergast Medal as the best and fairest in the reserves after averaging 33 disposals in 12 games.
Fremantle Next Generation Academy prospect and South Fremantle midfielder Toby Whan tied with East Fremantle’s Tom Grylls for the Jack Clarke Medal as the colts fairest and best and South Fremantle coach Craig White won the JJ Leonard Medalfor the WAFL coach of the year in his first season in charge after winning 18 of 19 matches on the way to Sunday’s grand final.
LEADERBOARD
29 – Charlie Constable (P)
27 – Matt Parker (SF)
23 – Milan Murdock (EF)
21 – Hamish Brayshaw (EP), Tom North (EP), Tom Blechynden (SF)
18 – Jye Bolton (C)
17 – Jake Florenca (SF)
16 – Jye Chalcraft (SD), Brandan Parfitt (P)
14 – Bailey Rogers (C)
OTHER AWARD WINNERS
Prendergast Medal: Brodie Gray (Perth)
Jack Clarke Medal: Tom Grylls (East Fremantle) and Toby Whan (South Fremantle)
JJ Leonard Medal for WAFL Coach of the Year: Craig White (South Fremantle)
Bernie Naylor Medal for leading goal-kicker: Tyler Keitel (West Perth)
https://thewest.com.au/sport/wafl/sandover-medal-2025-perths-charlie-constable-wins-thrilling-count-after-pipping-matt-parker-c-20023719
