William Leitch Medal


The William Leitch Medal, named after the highly regarded former Australian rules player and Tasmanian Football Administrator William Douglas Leitch, was an annual award which was presented to the best and fairest player in the TANFL/TFL Statewide League.
At various times prior to 1930 and between 1935 and 1939 the TFL award was known by other names. From 1942 to 1944 the competition was suspended due to World War Two. Following the collapse of both the Tasmanian Football League in 1998 and its replacement competitions, the award was suspended until its revival in 2004, awarded to the best and fairest player in the SFL Premier League and from 2009, awarded to the best and fairest player in the SFL.

Winners by year

  • W H GILL MEMORIAL TROPHY
  • 1925 – Eric "Leisha" Smith – Also tied on the same number of votes were Horrie Gorringe & Athol Paul who have never been recognised as joint winners.
  • 1926 – No award was made
  • WILSON BAILEY MEDAL
  • 1927 – Keith Roberts - Wilson Bailey Medal
  • 1928 – George Cole - - Wilson Bailey Medal
  • 1929 – Alan Leitch - Wilson Bailey Medal
  • 1930 – Jack Billett - Wilson Bailey Medal
  • WILLIAM LEITCH MEDAL
  • 1931 – Albert Collier
  • 1932 – Len Pye & – Pat Hartnett
  • 1933 – Eric Hanlon & – Burnell Edwards
  • 1934 – Stan Sproule & – Eric Hanlon
  • GEORGE WATT MEDAL
  • 1935 – Len Powell -
  • 1936 – Eric Zschech -
  • 1937 – Len Pye -
  • 1938 – Len Pye -
  • 1939 – Eric Zschech -
  • 1940 – Geoff Kilmartin
  • 1941 – Max Abbott
  • 1942 – no award - competition suspended due to WW2
  • 1943 – no award - competition suspended due to WW2
  • 1944 – no award - competition suspended due to WW2
  • WILLIAM LEITCH MEDAL
  • 1945 – Noel Reid
  • 1946 – Ernie Pilkington
  • 1947 – Jack Sullivan
  • 1948 – Jim Brown
  • 1949 – Hamish Yaxley
  • 1950 – Warren Smart
  • 1951 – Rex Garwood
  • 1952 – Cliff Busch
  • 1953 – Terry Cashion
  • 1954 – Bruce Roe
  • 1955 – Rex Garwood
  • 1956 – Robert Lewis
  • 1957 – Trevor Leo
  • 1958 – Rex Garwood
  • 1959 – Mal Pascoe & – Murray Steele
  • 1960 – Stuart Spencer
  • 1961 – Roger Browning
  • 1962 – Roger Browning
  • 1963 – Geoff Whitton
  • 1964 – David Sullivan
  • 1965 – Burnie Payne
  • 1966 – Burnie Payne
  • 1967 – John Richmond, – Stuart Spencer & – Neville Johnston
  • 1968 – Robert Lucas
  • 1969 – Roger Steele
  • 1970 – Roger Steele
  • 1971 – Rodney Olsson
  • 1972 – Ricky Graham
  • 1973 – Rodney Olsson
  • 1974 – Tony Browning
  • 1975 – Trevor Sprigg
  • 1976 – Trevor Sorrell
  • 1977 – Mick Hawkins
  • 1978 – Peter Hudson
  • 1979 – Peter Hudson
  • 1980 – Gary Linton
  • 1981 – Robbie Dykes
  • 1982 – Tony Martyn
  • 1983 – Tony Martyn
  • 1984 – Scott Wade
  • 1985 – Graham Hunnibell

    William Leitch Medal Winners: TFL Statewide League (1986–2000)

  • 1986 – Andy Bennett
  • 1987 – David Code
  • 1988 – Adrian Fletcher & – Michael Seddon
  • 1989 – Scott Wade
  • 1990 – Ricky Hanlon
  • 1991 – Gary Williamson
  • 1992 – Jason Gibson
  • 1993 – Daryn Perry & – Rene Peters
  • 1994 – Michael Maple
  • 1995 – Danny Noonan & – Geoff Wiggins
  • 1996 – Danny Noonan
  • 1997 – Fabian Carelli
  • 1998 – Wayne Weidemann
  • 1999 – Ben Atkin, – Matthew Jones & – Darren Trevena
  • 2000 – Nathan Howard

    William Leitch Medal Winners: SFL & SFL Premier League (2001-2003)

  • 2001 – Damien Dillon - Medal Awarded Retrospectively
  • 2002 – Matthew Jones - Medal Awarded Retrospectively
  • 2003 – Brendon Bolton - Medal Awarded Retrospectively

    William Leitch Medal Winners: SFL Premier League (2004–2008) & SFL (2009–Present)

  • 2004 – Brock Ackerley & – Roger Belcher
  • 2005 – David Newett
  • 2006 – Jesse Crouch
  • 2007 – Roger Belcher
  • 2008 – Shane Piuselli
  • 2009 – Roger Belcher
  • 2010 – James Lange
  • 2011 – Nathan Ross
  • 2012 – Michael Thompson
  • 2013 – Nathan Ross
  • 2014 – Caden Wilson
  • 2015 – Nathan Brown
  • 2016 – Troy Cunliffe
  • 2017 – Troy Cunliffe
  • 2018 – Jarrod Lawler
  • 2019 – Mitch Walker
  • 2020 – Ethan Brock
  • 2021 – Thor Boscott
  • 2022 – Josh Green
  • 2023- Darcy Gardner & Sheldon Smith
  • 2024- Sheldon Smith