Marcus Bontempelli has added another milestone to his glittering CV, claiming an equal club-record seventh Charles Sutton Medal at Crown Palladium on Wednesday night.

The 30-year-old polled 319 votes to finish ahead of 2025 winner Ed Richards, who claimed the Doug Hawkins Medal for a second-place finish with 248 votes, with young defender James O’Donnell awarded the Gary Dempsey Medal for third place with 231 votes.

Fresh off a five-year contract extension, Buku Khamis rounded his brilliant year off with a fourth-place finish, while co-vice-captain Aaron Naughton was fifth.

Bontempelli now stands alongside champion midfielder Scott West as a seven-time winner of the Charles Sutton Medal, claiming the award in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024 and now 2026.

The inspirational Western Bulldogs skipper again featured prominently on Brownlow night last week with 34 votes and a third-place finish after claiming his eighth All Australian blazer a few weeks earlier.

Alongside the accolades he claimed during the season, Bontempelli also captained the Victorian team for the return of State of Origin back in February to kick off yet another stellar year of personal achievement.

Throughout the season, Bontempelli averaged 27 touches, six clearances and four tackles a game as well as kicking 31 goals.

Bontempelli and Richards shared the John Van Groningen Award for work ethic voted by the players, while Michael Sellwood claimed the Chris Grant Best First Year Award.

Khamis clinched the Brad Johnson Best Team Player Award, while Arthur Jones collected the Tony Liberatore Most Improved Player Award.

The gala event also devoted time to honouring the careers on Tom Liberatore and Adam Treloar, who announced their retirements in recent weeks.

Charles Sutton Medal Top 10

1. Marcus Bontempelli – 319 votes
2. Ed Richards – 248
3. James O’Donnell – 231
4. Buku Khamis – 194
5. Aaron Naughton – 192
6. Bailey Dale – 177
7. Matthew Kennedy – 149
8. Bailey Williams – 142
9. Lachlan Bramble – 127
10. Tim English – 111

Other winners:

Chris Grant Best First Year Player: Michael Sellwood
Tony Liberatore Most Improved Player: Arthur Jones
Brad Johnson Best Team Player: Buku Khamis
John Van Groningen Award: Marcus Bontempelli & Ed Richards
Scott West Most Courageous Award: Aaron Naughton
John Schultz Community Award: Tom Liberatore
Simon Beasley Score Impact Player Award: Aaron Naughton
Best In Finals Award: Bailey Williams
VFL Best & Fairest Winner: Cooper Craig-Peters
VFL Best & Fairest Second Place: Jack Billings
VFL Best & Fairest Third Place: Ryan Gardner
VFL Coaches Award: Dan Orgill
AFL & VFL Trainers Awards: Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Billings
Locker Group Coaches Award: Cooper Hynes
Ingrid McDonald Award: Brent Prismall