What advice do past Whitley medallists have for the 2026 winner?

Tonight, another name will be added to the Whitley Medal honourboard.

But before the 2026 GDFNL best and fairest is crowned, those who have experienced that moment have a message for this year’s recipient.

From inaugural winner Mark Stewart in 1992 to reigning medallist Jack Yates, the Whitley medallists were each asked what advice they would give to the player who follows them.

Their messages cover hard work, humility, respect, preparation and making the most of a football career.

Above all, they provide a unique message from one generation of Whitley medallists to the next.

To whoever wins tonight, this advice is for you.

1992 – Mark Stewart
“Don’t skim on anything. Give 100%. Just work hard and make sure you do it flat out.”

1993 – Stuart Beynon
“In today’s footy don’t ever count yourself out of playing at a higher level. If that is your childhood dream then never give up on it. Preparation is the key.

“If you want to play the best you can, it is upon you to get yourself in the best physical shape when no one is there to push you.”

1994 & 1998 – Daryl ‘Sid’ Jones
“Just be humble and no doubt whoever the winner is going to be it is through hard work they’ve put in. Strive to get even better as time goes on.”

1995 – Michael Bird
“If you are fortunate enough to win it, at the time people think it’s great winning premierships which is true, but you just have to take the honour humbly and treasure it because it is something you look back at pride with.

“Just understand that it is a great achievement to win it because there’s a lot of players in the competition between the eight to ten clubs and only one person that wins it every year so be proud of your efforts.”

1996 & 1997 – Tim Gardiner
“Train hard if you want to get there and play as a team.”

1997 – Barry Delaney
“Enjoy it and see it as an honour and privilege to win. Respect it and be proud that you’re good enough to win one.”

1999, 2004 & 2006 – Jason Fastuca
“Respect the title. Neville was such a respected man in the league. Some people just say, I don't want to win the personal awards but just enjoy it. Go into the next season knowing you are the best player in the comp because essentially you still are until the next vote count.”

2000 & 2003 – Ricky O’Toole
“If you do the work you get rewarded.

“Put in the work off field, do the right things and just be a good teammate.”

2001 & 2002 – Clayton Trotter
“Try and be the best version of you for the team.”

2005 – Leigh Hardman
“If you are a younger winner, take your opportunities and arise from it.

“It was probably something that I should have done because I had some offers to play in the Northern Territory and play in Canberra as well so always be receptive to the doors the award unlocks in the future.”

2007 – Haami Williams
“Enjoy it and see it as an honour and privilege to win. Respect it and be proud that you’re good enough to win one.”

2008 – Shaun Lewis
“Enjoy footy and take pride in your possessions. If you get your skills right and be at the right place at the right time, it will work for you. And eat Dim Sims before a game!”

2009 – Jace Kelly
“If it didn’t give you confidence that you were good enough before it should give you confidence that you will be good enough to keep going. Just don’t stop.

“If you think you are never going to pull the boots on again make sure you have absolutely drained every little bit of football energy out of your body because you are a long time retired as they say. Footy is such an awesome thing to do and having a small part in a book like this just shows you how amazing it was to live a local footy life and share these moments with everyone. Play for as long as you can.”

2010 – Ryan Coy
“Mainly that it is a young man’s game. Don’t waste your career when you’re young and able because at some point, you won’t be able to get yourself up for games.

“Appreciate it when you are fit and firing and give it everything that you have got to play while you can.”

2011 – Lucas Murphy
“Football gives you what you deserve.

“If you are doing the right things and the preparation, you will reap those rewards.”

2012 – Luke Forbes
“Enjoy your footy. You do the hard work and you reap the awards.”

2013 – Shane Tobin
“I don’t really have any advice, just enjoy your footy and enjoy your club and hopefully you win a few premierships as well.”

2014 – Andrew Challis
“Enjoy the night, it’s your turn so just embrace everything that comes with it. You might not be a person that likes the attention and things like that but it’s an honour to be able to say you have topped the league for the year and won one.

“Also, enjoy the nervousness of the count. Embrace it and be proud without being over the top and arrogant. You get a little overwhelmed but be proud and enjoy.”

2015 – Jamie Pitman
“Enjoy the honour and use it to take your game to the next level.”

2016 – Brent Macleod
“There’s a lot of history that the next generation won’t be privy to when Neville Whitley finishes his presidency.

“My advice is tap into the history, tap into the past winners and what you can hold yourself to in the company that you are in because there are some elite players that have won it over the years.”

2017 – Jak Kennedy-Hunt
“Work hard but also have fun. Remember you are there to have fun.”

2018 & 2024 – Matthew James
“Keep performing. When you hear players say that you didn’t deserve the 2018 medal, well, it’s not good to hear. That’s what made the second one so special, silencing my critics.”

2019 – Reece Holwell
“It is not only the best but it is the fairest, you have to play the game hard but fairly as well so that word means a bit to me on reflection.”

2021 – Jack Brauman
“Train hard and the rest will happen for you.”

2021 – Dylan Witney
“You only get out what you put in.

“I discovered this when I was in my mid 20s when I went up to Queensland training with Daniel Mulligan, who was one of the fittest humans you’d ever meet, and I got fit under him. That translated into getting more touches of the footy.”

2022 – Tim McLennan
“I would just tell him no matter whatever niggle you get on the ground or gameplans other teams come up for you just to continue doing what you are doing.

“Ultimately, it’s a lovely achievement and it is humbling but it shouldn’t change the player that you are.”

2023 – Joel Bennett
“Enjoy it. Especially with the people around you, let them enjoy it because there’s a lot of people who put their time into us whether it is family members sacrificing their time, partners, kids, teammates.

“As much as it’s an individual award, try to celebrate it with the people around you.”

2025 – Jack Yates
“Try and back it up with a flag.”