In 2004, the Robert Reynolds Trophy – so-named in memory of the club’s former Vice-President Cr. Robert Reynolds, was renamed the John Nicholls Medal, in honor of the club’s five-time Best and Fairest, three-time Premiership captain and most capped Victorian footballer.

While the first recipient of “Big Nick’s bauble David Teague was adjudged Best and Fairest in ’04, the renaming applied to all previous winners in each season as far back as 1934 when Creswell “Mickey” Crisp took out the first RRT, and the year of 1929 when Horrie Clover was declared Club Champion in the annual report.

For whatever reason, the club’s best players for the remaining League seasons of 1897-1928 and 1930-33 were never honoured with an award. But it’s worth exploring what might have been if the medal was in place for those “lost” years.

And it seems the counts would have been kind to Ernie Walton, Rod “Wee” McGregor and Creswell “Mickey” Crisp - Walton in the historic season of 1897 and again in 1899 and 1902, McGregor as a three-time Club Champion in 1906, ’09 and ’17, and Crisp (later a two-time official Best and Fairest in 1934 and ’38) in 1931.

The following list of “unofficial” Carlton Best and Fairests and second and third placegetters was finalised with the assistance of the Spirit of Carlton’s Jamie Sanderson and the club’s statistician Stephen Williamson, based on games played, any known club awards and inter and intra state games.

Working on the aforementioned criteria, 27 players shared the spoils over the 36-year period in which there was no official award presented.

Unofficial Carlton Football Club Best and Fairests, 1897-1928 & 1930-1933

YEARB&F2nd B&F3rd B&F
1897Ernie WaltonBrook HannahJimmy Aitken
1898Len MorrisonBobby WalshErnie Walton
1899Ernie WaltonBill CaseyBill McNamara
1900Bobby WalshFred ElliottJoe Sullivan
1901Charlie RolandErnie WaltonFred Elliot
1902Ernie WaltonJoe McShaneCharlie Roland
1903Fred ElliottErnie WaltonArchie Snell
1904Albert TrimArchie SnellFred Elliott
1905Charlie HammondBilly PayneMick Grace
1906Rod McGregorMick GraceTed Kennedy
1907Alex LangTed KennedyFrank Caine
1908Alex LangCharlie HammondLes Beck
1909Rod McGregorFred ElliottGeorge Topping
1910Jim MarchbankFred ElliottAndy McDonald
1911Ernie JamiesonNorm ClarkVin Gardiner
1912George ChallisGeorge BruceRod McGregor
1913Viv ValentineErnie JamiesonGeorge Challis
1914Alf BaudHarry HaughtonErnie Jamieson
1915Alf BaudCharlie HammondHerb Burleigh
1916Billy DickCharlie FisherPerc Daykin
1917Rod McGregorPerc DaykinTed Brown
1918Ted BrownErn CowleySteve Leehane
1919Perc DaykinSteve LeehaneFrank Martin
1920Paddy O'BrienCharlie CanetNewton Chandler
1921Stew McLatchieHorrie CloverJack Greenhill
1922Bert BoromeoFred JohnsonBilly Blackman
1923Paddy O'BrienAlex DuncanRay Brew
1924Alex DuncanPaddy O'BrienFred Pringle
1925Ray BrewAllan LeitchTed Brewis
1926Ray BrewHedley BlackmoreCharlie McSwain
1927Alex DuncanMaurie ConnellHarold Carter
1928Harvey DunnFred GilbyRay Brew
1929*Horrie CloverColin MartynFred Gilby
1930Ansell ClarkeCharlie DaveyJack Green
1931Creswell CrispAnsell ClarkeFrank Gill
1932Charlie DaveyGordon MackieMaurie Johnson
1933Ron CooperHarry VallenceAnsell Clarke

* Clover was officially adjudged Carlton Best & Fairest player in 1929, with Martyn Second Best and Fairest and Gilby Most Improved