Champion of the Colony

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The Champion Of The Colony was, prior to the introduction of the Brownlow Medal, the most prestigious individual award in Australian rules football in Victoria. It was awarded based on votes from Melbourne's leading football journalists.

The first award was first presented in 1858 and then annually until 1945, despite the Brownlow commencing in 1924.

The Federation of Australia on January 1, 1901 meant that Victoria was no longer a 'colony' and the award was renamed Champion Of The Season in 1902.^[1] ^[2]

[edit] Winners

Year	Player	Team
1858	G.S. Bruce	Richmond Cricketers
1859	Tom Wills	Geelong
1860	H.W. Bryant	Melbourne
1861	G.O'Mullane	South Yarra
1862	Henry C. Harrison	Melbourne
1863	Henry C. Harrison	Melbourne
1864	A.M. Greenfield	Ballarat
1865	Tom Wills	Melbourne
1866	Henry C. Harrison	Melbourne
1867	Henry C. Harrison	Melbourne
1868	J.J.A. Conway	Carlton
1869	Henry C. Harrison	Melbourne
1870	T.W.C. Riddell	South Yarra
1871	B.J. Goldsmith	Melbourne
1872	Tom Wills	Geelong
1873	J.C. Donovan	Carlton
1874	W.N. Lacey	Carlton
1875	George Robertson	Carlton
1876	George Coulthard	Carlton
1877	George Coulthard	Carlton
1878	H.P. Douglas	Geelong
1879	George Coulthard	Carlton
1880	James Wilson	Geelong
1881	James Wilson	Geelong
1882	James Wilson	Geelong
1883	John Baker	Carlton
1884	Jack T. Kerley	Geelong
1885	Peter Burns	South Melbourne
1886	J.C. Pearson	Essendon
1887	John Worrall	Fitzroy
1888	D.D. McKay	South Melbourne
1889	W.J. Hannaysee	Port Melbourne
1890	John Worrall	Fitzroy
1891	Peter Burns	South Melbourne
1892	Charles Forbes	Essendon
1893	Albert Thurgood	Essendon
1894	Albert Thurgood	Essendon
1895	George Vautin	Essendon
1896	Bill Strickland	Collingwood
1897	Fred McGinis	Melbourne
1898	Dick Condon	Collingwood
1899	Mick Grace	Fitzroy
1900	Fred Leach	Collingwood
1901	Albert Thurgood	Essendon
1902	E.M. 'Ted' Rowell	Collingwood
1903	Hugh Gavin	Essendon
1904	Vic Cumberland	St Kilda
1905	Percy Trotter	Fitzroy
1906	Jack 'Dookie' McKenzie	Essendon
1907	Dave McNamara	St Kilda
1908	Bill Busbridge	Essendon
1909	Bill Busbridge	Essendon
1910	Dick Lee	Collingwood
1911	Bruce Sloss	South Melbourne
1912	Ernie Cameron	Essendon
1913	Vic Cumberland	St Kilda
1914	Dave McNamara	St Kilda
1915	Dick Lee	Collingwood
1916	Vic Thorp	Richmond
1917	'Paddy' J. O'Brien	Carlton
1918	Jack Howell	South Melbourne
1919	Vic Thorp	Richmond
1920	Roy Cazaly	South Melbourne
1921	Horrie Clover	Carlton
1922	R.G. 'Goldie' Collins	Fitzroy
1923	Tom Fitzmaurice	Essendon
1924	Tom Fitzmaurice	Essendon
1925	Colin Watson*	St Kilda
1926	Ivor Warne-Smith*	Melbourne
1927	Syd Coventry*	Collingwood
1928	Ivor Warne-Smith*	Melbourne
1929	Syd Coventry	Collingwood
1930	Alan Hopkins*	Footscray
1931	G.J. 'Jocka' Todd	Geelong
1932	Haydn Bunton, Sr.*	Fitzroy
1933	Gordon Coventry	Collingwood
1934	Laurie Nash	South Melbourne
1935	Laurie Nash	South Melbourne
1936	Harry Collier	Collingwood
1937	Dick Reynolds*	Essendon
1938	Jack Regan	Collingwood
1939	Dick Reynolds	Essendon
1940	Jack Dyer	Richmond
1941	Ted Cordner	Melbourne
1942	Jack Dyer	Richmond
1943	Jack Dyer	Richmond
1944	Norm Smith	Melbourne
1945	Jack Graham	South Melbourne