Brownlow Medal - Format of Citation

Format of Citation

Although the award is generally spoken of the "best and fairest", the award's specific criterion is "fairest and best", reflecting an emphasis on sportsmanship and fair play (which also explains the decision to have the votes cast by the umpires), as the 1924 somewhat illuminated citation expressly states:

Mr. Edward Greeves

Geelong Football Club

THE CHARLES BROWNLOW TROPHY

Dear Sir,

On behalf of the Victorian Football League, we desire

to place on permanent record the appreciation of your excellent play

during the Season 1924.

You were selected as the fairest and best player and we have

pleasure in presenting the accompanying Gold Medal in recognition of those

sterling qualities.

Trusting that you will be long spared to interest yourself in the

adancement of the Game.

We are, yours sincerely

W. Baldwin Spencer (President),

M.E. Green (Treasurer), E. L. Wilson (Secretary)

The VFL was the last of the four major mainland leagues to strike an award for league best and fairest: the SANFL's Magarey Medal had been awarded since 1898, while the WAFL's Sandover Medal (1921) and the VFA's Recorder Cup (1923) had been struck more recently. Over time, all of these awards have migrated towards similar rules regarding voting and eligibility.

But for the change of the monogram from VFL to AFL in 1990, the design, shape and size of the medallion itself has remained virtually unchanged from that of 1924.