Hamish Brayshaw has been crowned East Perth’s first Sandover medallist in 22 years after a dominant season for the resurgent Royals.

The former West Coast midfielder polled 26 votes to win by seven from West Perth star Luke Meadows (19), with Royals teammate Angus Schumacher and Swan Districts wingman Jesse Turner placing equal-third on 18 votes.

It is the biggest win by a Sandover medallist since the count went back to the 3-2-1 system in 2019.

It caps off an incredible two seasons at the Royals for Brayshaw, who finished second in last year’s count to East Fremantle’s Blaine Boekhorst alongside Meadows and retired South Fremantle champion Haiden Schloithe.

Heading in as a pre-count favourite, Brayshaw polled in 12 games of 18 games including six best-on-grounds to become the first Royal to claim the honour since Ryan Turnbull in 2001.

In the process he becomes the 15th East Perth player to win the medal, joining the likes of Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer, Peter Spencer, Mal Brown, Phil Kelly, David Bain and Alan Quartermaine.

Brayshaw had a remarkable year as East Perth’s co-captain, averaging 26 disposals and kicking 25 goals– the third most for his side – as they reached the finals for the first time since 2018.

Brayshaw credited his teammates for helping him succeed in an incredible 2023.

“The guys I play along with are the reason I play footy but the guys I live with, especially in Angus Schumacher and Mitch Crowden is a new addition to the team and I’ve been fortunate to play with them,” Brayshaw said.

“If I’ve got the football it’s because they’ve given it to me. I’m fortunate to play with such good quality guys like those two.”

Brayshaw said experience and a license to go forward to hit the scoreboard helped him stand out.

“I feel like I’m a bit more experienced and I’ve been able to go a little bit more forward because of guys like Shuey and Crowden who have been able to come in,” he said.

“For whatever reason kicking goals gets seen in the umpires’ eyes so I’m happy to be in a position I am. I feel like that’s the only real difference is just kicking goals this year.”

Brayshaw said he was looking forward to a Tuesday morning phone call to his eastern-states based father Mark, who was runner-up in the 1989 Sandover count.

The win comes amid an eventful week for Brayshaw, whose brother Angus is the talk of the AFL world after being concussed by Brayden Maynard in an act that has resulted in a tribunal case for the Collingwood defender. In his exclusive column in The West Australian, Hamish revealed that he “felt sick” and was wiping away tears as he realised the full extent of what had happened to his sibling.

Another Brayshaw brother, Fremantle star Andrew, was on hand at Crown to embrace Hamish after his win on Monday night.

East Fremantle midfielder Milan Murdock burst out of the blocks to lead the Sandover count with 11 votes after the first five rounds.

Brayshaw was four votes off the pace after 10 rounds but took the lead from Murdock in round 14 after kicking two goals from 32 disposals in a win over Claremont.

He then polled seven votes in the final three games, including a perfect six in the last two games, to emerge as a convincing winner.

Royals trio Brayshaw, Schumacher and Mitch Crowden polled a whopping 61 votes between them for the season.

West Perth spearhead Tyler Keitel was handed his third Bernie Naylor Medal as the competition’s leading goalkicker after booting 57 majors in 18 games.

Swan Districts midfielder Mitch Bain was awarded the Prendergast Medal for the reserves fairest-and-best player after averaging 27 disposals in only 10 games.

Perth ruckman Coen Livingstone and Subiaco midfielder Riley Wills were the joint winners of the Jack Clarke Medal as the fairest and best in the colts.

East Fremantle’s Bill Monaghan was awarded the JJ Leonard Medal as coach of the year after taking the Sharks to their first grand final in 11 years.

The Montgomery Medal for the best field umpire went to Ben Laycock.

Sandover Medal leaders

26 – Hamish Brayshaw (East Perth)

19 – Luke Meadows (West Perth)

18 – Jesse Turner (Swan Districts), Angus Schumacher (East Perth)

17 – Mitch Crowden (East Perth), Milan Murdock (East Fremantle)

15 – Liam Hickmott (Subiaco)

14 – Jye Bolton (Claremont)

13 – Bailey Rogers (Claremont), Zac Clarke (Subiaco)

12 – Will Brodie (Peel Thunder), Tom Blechynden (South Fremantle), Ben Hancock (Peel Thunder), Tyler Keitel (West Perth), Taj Schofield (Subiaco)

Bernie Naylor Medal – WAFL Leading Goalkicker Tyler Keitel (West Perth) Prendergast Medal – WAFL Reserves Fairest & Best Mitchell Bain (Swan Districts) Jack Clarke Medal – Colts Fairest & Best Coen Livingstone (Perth) & Riley Wills (Subiaco) JJ Leonard Medal – Coach of the Year (selected from AFL/WAFL/WAFLW Clubs) Bill Monaghan (East Fremantle) Montgomery Medal – Best WAFL Field Umpire Ben Laycock Rodriguez Shield – Champion Club (most H&A games won in all 3 grades – League, Reserves & Colts) East Fremantle Football Club Rio Tinto WA Football Volunteer of the Year Mark Delane WAFL Life Member Greg Wardell-Johnson WAFC Life Members Grant Dorrington Darrell Panizza WA Football Hall of Fame Phil Krakouer Allistair Pickett Jan Cooper Alex Rance WA Football Hall of Fame – Legend Mel Whinnen