The Charles Sutton Medal is awarded yearly to the player judged as the best and fairest for the Bulldogs throughout the V/AFL Season.

The award is currently named in honour of Charles 'Charlie' Sutton, who played 173 and coached 162 matches for Footscray between 1942 and 1968. He famously led the Bulldogs to its first ever VFL premiership as both captain and coach of the club in 1954.

It was previously named the McCarthy Trophy (1927-1939) in honour of former player Con McCarthy, and the Con Curtain/Weickhardt Trophy (1940-1954) after the Club's former president.

The Charles Sutton Medal is voted on by the Bulldogs’ match committee, with five members awarding a score from zero to five for each player after every game. 

Note: Some historical data is currently unavailable

Year

Charles Sutton Medal

Runner-up*

Third Place**

2024 Marcus Bontempelli (314 votes) Bailey Dale/Adam Treloar (245)  
2023 Marcus Bontempelli (342 votes) Tom Liberatore (278) Ed Richards (193)
2022 Josh Dunkley (231) Tom Liberatore (211) Aaron Naughton (180)
2021 Marcus Bontempelli (353) Jack Macrae (296) Tom Liberatore (291)
2020 Caleb Daniel (205) Marcus Bontempelli (195) Tom Liberatore (160)
2019 Marcus Bontempelli (299) Josh Dunkley (270) Jack Macrae (268)
2018 Lachie Hunter (191) Jack Macrae (190) Marcus Bontempelli (154)
2017 Marcus Bontempelli (185) Jason Johannisen (184) Jack Macrae (155)
2016 Marcus Bontempelli (319) Dale Morris (248) Lachie Hunter (246)
2015 Easton Wood (268) Robert Murphy (229) Marcus Bontempelli (226)
2014 Tom Liberatore (235) Jack Macrae (168) Ryan Griffen (154)
2013 Ryan Griffen (273) Tom Liberatore (242) Will Minson (184)
2012 Matthew Boyd (168) Ryan Griffen (150) Liam Picken (110)
2011 Matthew Boyd (140) Robert Murphy (130) Ryan Griffen (99)
2010 Ryan Griffen (137) Daniel Cross (126) Daniel Giansiracusa (113)
2009 Matthew Boyd (154) Daniel Cross (145) Dale Morris (133)
2008 Daniel Cross (191) Adam Cooney (167) Matthew Boyd (163)
2007 Brian Lake (121) Brad Johnson (100) Scott West (98)
2006 Brad Johnson (197) Scott West (162) Daniel Cross (158)
2005 Scott West (160) Daniel Cross (138) Lindsay Gilbee (125)
2004 Scott West (139) Luke Darcy (126) Brad Johnson (119)
2003 Scott West (157) Brad Johnson (117) Rohan Smith (108)
2002 Brad Johnson (185) Luke Darcy (183) Nathan Brown (182)
2001 Luke Darcy (168) Scott West (162) Chris Grant (139)
2000 Scott West (216) Nathan Brown (175) Brad Johnson (161)
1999 Brad Johnson (171) Chris Grant (162) Rohan Smith/Tony Liberatore (140)
1998 Scott West (223) Chris Grant (200) Jose Romero (182)
1997 Scott West (35) Chris Grant (32) Tony Liberatore (31)
1996 Chris Grant/Jose Romero (33)   Rohan Smith (17)
1995 Scott West (29) Tony Liberatore (28) Leon Cameron (26)
1994 Chris Grant (283) Steve Kretiuk (276) Tony Liberatore (260)
1993 Leon Cameron (222) Tony Liberatore (220) Scott Wynd (219)
1992 Scott Wynd (307) Tony Liberatore (299) Simon Atkins (297)
1991 Tony Liberatore (268) Scott Wynd (256) Simon Atkins (242)
1990 Peter Foster (132) Tony McGuinness (127) Terry Wallace (126)
1989 Terry Wallace Doug Hawkins Stephen Wallis
1988 Terry Wallace (37) Brian Royal (37) Peter Foster (34)
1987 Tony McGuinness (240) Peter Foster (204) Stephen Wallis (156)
1986 Brad Hardie (167) Andrew Purser (166) Rick Kennedy (142)
1985 Doug Hawkins (233) Stephen Wallis (207) Brian Royal (199)
1984 Andrew Purser (178) Doug Hawkins (177) Brian Royal (152)
1983 Brian Royal (179) Brian Cordy (153) Andrew Purser (146)
1982 Ian Dunstan (75) Doug Hawkins (64) Bill Berry (57)
1981 Ian Dunstan (135) Mick Egan (131) Ian Hampshire (95)
1980 Kelvin Templeton (209) Ian Hampshire (115) Ian Dunstan (98)
1979 Ian Dunstan (83) Mick Egan (58) Doug Hawkins (52)
1978 Kelvin Templeton (84) Gary Dempsey (76) Geoff Jennings (70)
1977 Gary Dempsey (101) Geoff Jennings (64) Bernie Quinlan (56)
1976 Gary Dempsey (139) Terry Wheeler (89) Geoff Jennings (79)
1975 Gary Dempsey (267) Peter Featherby (98) Bernie Quinlan (82)
1974 Gary Dempsey (90) Stephen Power (59) Ray Huppatz (52)
1973 Gary Dempsey (173) Adrian Gallagher (85) Bernie Quinlan (80)
1972 Peter Welsh (120) Gary Dempsey (111) George Bissett (84)
1971 David Thorpe (218) Gary Dempsey (124) David Darcy (101)
1970 Gary Dempsey (106) Gordon Casey (76) Stuart Magee (42)
1969 George Bissett (104) David Thorpe (46) David Darcy (30)
1968 David Thorpe John Schultz Stuart Magee
1967 John Jillard Ken Greenwood Graeme Chalmers
1966 John Schultz Don McKenzie John Jillard
1965 John Schultz John Jillard Merv Hobbs
1964 John Schultz David Darcy Ted Whitten Sr.
1963 Ray Walker John Jillard  
1962 John Schultz John Jillard  
1961 Ted Whitten Charlie Evans  
1960 John Schultz Ted Whitten Cameron McDonald
1959 Ted Whitten Sr. John Schultz  
1958 Ted Whitten Sr.  Don Ross John Schultz
1957 Ted Whitten Sr.    
1956 Don Ross    
1955 Peter Box    
1954 Ted Whitten Sr.    
1953 Harvey Stevens    
1952 Jack Collins    
1951 Jack Collins    
1950 Charlie Sutton    
1949 Wally Donald    
1948 Harry Hickey    
1947 Joe Ryan    
1946 Joe Ryan    
1945 Harry Hickey    
1944 Arthur Olliver    
1943 Allan Collins    
1942 Ted Ellis    
1941 Arthur Olliver/Norman Ware    
1940 Norman Ware    
1939 Harry Hickey    
1938 Norman Ware    
1937 Norman Ware    
1936 Alby Morrison    
1935 George Bennett    
1934 Norman Ware    
1933 Alby Morrison    
1932 Ivan McAlpine    
1931 Allan Hopkins    
1930 Ivan McAlpine    
1929 Bill Russ    
1928 Alby Outen    
1927 Ivan McAlpine    


*Renamed Doug Hawkins Medal in 2011.
** Renamed Gary Dempsey Medal in 2011. Was awarded to the player deemed the most consistent between seasons 1960-73.

Multiple Best & Fairest Wins

Medals

Player

Years Won

7 Scott West 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005
6 Marcus Bontempelli 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
6 Gary Dempsey 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977
5 John Schultz 1960, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966
5 Norman Ware 1934, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941
5 Ted Whitten 1954, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961
3 Matthew Boyd 2009, 2011, 2012
3 Ian Dunstan 1979, 1981, 1982
3 Harry Hickey 1939, 1945, 1948
3 Brad Johnson 1999, 2002, 2006
3 Ivan McAlpine 1927, 1930, 1932
2 Jack Collins 1951, 1952
2 Chris Grant 1994, 1996
2 Ryan Griffen 2010, 2013
2 Alby Morrison 1933, 1936
2 Arthur Olliver 1941, 1944
2 Joe Ryan 1946, 1947
2 Kelvin Templeton 1978, 1980
2 David Thorpe 1968, 1971
2 Terry Wallace 1988, 1989

Consecutive Best & Fairest Wins

Consecutive Wins

Player

Years Won

5 Gary Dempsey 1973-1977
3 Ted Whitten Sr. 1957-1959
3 John Schultz 1964-1966
3 Scott West 2003-2005
2 Norman Ware 1937-1938
2 Joe Ryan 1946-1947
2 Jack Collins 1951-1952
2 Ian Dunstan 1981-1982
2 Terry Wallace 1988-1989
2 Scott West 1997-1998
2 Matthew Boyd 2011-2012
2 Marcus Bontempelli 2016-2017, 2023-2024