The GIANTS’ 2025 AFL season will be celebrated in style on Thursday night at the Kevin Sheedy Medal held at Crown Sydney.
As we prepare to crown the GIANTS’ club champion on Thursday night, GIANTS Media has taken a look at some of the contenders for this year’s Kevin Sheedy Medal following a host of strong performances across the 2025 AFL season.
How Does The Count Work?
After each game, line coaches rate their respective players from a pre-determined performance scale.
The coaches then meet to determine an overall rating for each player before submitting to head coach Adam Kingsley who allocates up to eight (8) votes for each player.
It is worth noting that previously players could receive up to six votes per game, whereas this year eight votes is the maximum a player can receive for any given game.
The votes across the season are then tallied up, with the player with the most votes at the end of the season awarded the Kevin Sheedy Medal.
Previous Winners:
2024 – Jesse Hogan
2023 – Toby Greene
2022 – Sam Taylor
2021 – Josh Kelly
2020 – Nick Haynes and Lachie Whitfield
2019 – Tim Taranto
2018 – Lachie Whitfield
2017 – Josh Kelly
2016 – Toby Greene
2015 – Heath Shaw
2014 – Shane Mumford
2013 – Jeremy Cameron
2012 – Callan Ward
2025 Kevin Sheedy Medal Contenders:
Tom Green
Further cementing himself as one of the game’s best players, Green took his game to even greater heights in 2025 and following an incredibly consistent season is sure to feature heavily in Thursday’s count.
Entering the night as one of the red-hot favourites, Green finished the 2025 home and away season sitting fifth in the competition in both total (660) and average disposals (29.5), first in contested possessions per game (15.4), first in ground ball gets per game (10.1), as well as second in clearances per game (8.3).
Making the All-Australian squad for a second time following his starring 2025 season, Green also polled 20 votes in last week’s Brownlow Medal to highlight his eye-catching campaign.
One of the GIANTS’ most important players and one of the league’s elite inside midfielders, Green is looking to claim his first Kevin Sheedy Medal on Thursday night after tying for runner up in each of the past two seasons.
Helping his chances of a maiden club champion award is Green’s health in 2025, with the 24-year-old only missing the opening round of the season before playing in each of the remaining 23 games.
Finn Callaghan
One of the league’s most exciting young stars, Callaghan looms as one of the obvious challengers to Green on Thursday night after a breakout season from the line-breaking midfielder.
Still just 22 years old and recently named in the All-Australian squad for the first time, Callaghan took another major step forward in his development in 2025 to stamp himself as not only one of the league’s best young players but also one of the most damaging running midfielders across the entire competition.
Callaghan finished the season averaging 28.1 touches, 5.7 inside 50s, 4.8 clearances, 4.5 tackles, as well as 570 meters gained across a remarkably consistent campaign.
Combining an incredible work rate with eye-catching speed and one of the league’s most damaging left foots, Callaghan was vital to the GIANTS’ record-equalling 16-win home and away season and is sure to have garnered plenty of votes for his efforts.
Something that could impact Callaghan’s chances at being crowned club champion on Thursday night is the fact the young gun missed three games in the middle of the season, while his main rivals played nearly every game.
Sam Taylor
Taylor is looking to join a select few of two-time Kevin Sheedy Medal winners on Thursday night if he can add to his 2022 victory.
Named an All Australian this year for the second time in his career, Taylor endured another dominant season down back and will enter Thursday night with every chance of taking home the club’s top individual honour.
Missing out on All-Australian honours over the last two seasons due to a pair of injury-interrupted campaigns, Taylor’s starring campaign across 19 games was enough to earn him a second blazer as he re-established himself as the best intercept mark in the competition as well as the league’s stingiest key defender.
Leading the entire competition in both total (70) and average (3.9) intercept marks per game, as well as sitting inside the top 10 for contested marks, Taylor was a force behind the ball in 2025 and is sure to be right in the mix during Thursday night’s count.
If Taylor is to claim the win on Thursday night it will be a remarkable achievement after featuring in just 19 games compared to the likes of Green’s 23 and Callaghan’s 21.
Lachie Ash
Another vying for his first Kevin Sheedy Medal, Ash has given himself every chance after a career-best season down back.
One of the league’s most improved players across the 2023 and 2024 seasons following a permanent move to half back, Ash took his game to a new level in 2025 season to earn himself a maiden selection in the All-Australian squad.
Upping last year’s average of 20.3 disposals per game to 27.9 this year, the dashing defender also averaged a whopping 543 meters gained per game to go along with 6.3 marks and 6.4 rebound 50s per game to become one of the league’s most damaging running weapons.
A key component of Adam Kingsley’s orange tsunami game style, Ash played in all 24 games this season and is sure to be right around the mark on Thursday night.
Lachie Whitfield
One of just three two-time Kevin Sheedy Medallists alongside Josh Kelly and Toby Greene, Whitfield would create history as the club’s only three-time winner if he were to be victorious on Thursday night.
Whitfield will enter this year’s count following another starring season off half-back.
One of the competition’s best rebounding defenders, Whitfield finished his 2025 campaign sitting eighth in the competition for disposals at an average of 28.7 per game at 90.9 per cent disposal efficiency to go along with 7.1 marks and 5.4 rebound-50s per game.
Further cementing himself as one of the AFL’s most lethal weapons out of defence, Whitfield finished the season ranked elite across the competition for disposals, kicks, handballs, and marks.
After playing in all but one game this season, the ever-reliable Whitfield has given himself every chance to become the first ever three-time Kevin Sheedy Medallist on Thursday night.
Connor Idun
A member of the GIANTS’ leadership group for a third straight season, Idun continued his rise as one of the competition’s most reliable mid-sized defenders with another incredibly strong campaign in 2025.
One of the league’s most versatile yet often underrated defenders, Idun played all 24 games this season and consistently shut down some of the league’s best forwards to play a vital role in the GIANTS’ stingy backline.
After finishing fourth in last year’s count, and enduring arguably a better season in 2025, Idun’s consistency and ability to continually execute his role to a high level have him placed better than ever to claim a maiden club champion award on Thursday night.
To keep up to date with all the results from the 2025 Kevin Sheedy Medal on Thursday night, following @GWSGIANTS on social media: Facebook, X, and Instagram.
