CARLTON’S night of nights is upon us.

Sunday will see the winner of the 2026 John Nicholls Medal, with one Blue to add themselves to the list of names among Carlton’s very best.

With a number of individuals expected to poll well plus a number of other awards up for grabs, can you predict who’ll take home what this Sunday night?

As always, the 2026 John Nicholls Medal will be broadcast live on carltonfc.com.au - stay tuned for more details!

John Nicholls Medal

The John Nicholls Medal is awarded to the best and fairest player over the course of the season, and is Carlton’s highest individual honour.

Four coaches vote for as many players as they feel warrant a vote for each game on the following scale:

Four votes – outstanding performance
Three votes – excellent performance
Two votes – above expectation performance
One vote – expected performance

A player therefore can receive a maximum of 16 votes each round.

2025 winner: George Hewett

Best Clubman

The Best Clubman Award is voted on using a 3-2-1 system by the entire playing group and football staff, and is presented to the individual who has made the greatest on-field and off-field contribution to the Club throughout the course of the 2026 season. 

2025 winner: Marc Pittonet

Coaches’ Award

Voted by the AFL Senior Coach in conjunction with the entire coaching group, the Coaches Award is presented to the player that has the greatest impact on team performance while also having a positive impact on those around them throughout the course of the season.  In doing so, the nominated player has also upheld the Club’s values and lived the team’s trademarks.

2025 winner: George Hewett

Players' Award

This award - voted on by the players after each game - represents the actions and behaviours that best represents the culture and what Carlton is as a football club. 

2025 winner: George Hewett

Best Young Player

Likely to be a hotly contested award on Sunday night, this is awarded to the Club’s most outstanding player - as voted by the coaches - who is aged under 21 years of age and has played 10 games or less at the start of the AFL season.

2025 winner: Cooper Lord

Best Finals Player

This honour is awarded to the standout player across Carlton’s finals series, those being the wildcard final win over Melbourne and the elimination final loss to Geelong.

Former winners include Sam Walsh (2023) and Patrick Cripps (2024).

Spirit of Carlton Award

The Spirit of Carlton Award is awarded to the player who embodies the spirit of the Carlton Football Club on and off the field.

2025 winner: Cooper Lord

Inner Blue Ruthless Award

The Inner Blue Ruthless Award is awarded to the player who displays bravery, resilience and commitment each week.

2025 winner: George Hewett

William A. Cook Trophy

Over the course of the season, members of the Carltonians vote on a 3-2-1 basis. The player with the most votes at the end of the year is awarded the William A. Cook Trophy.

2025 winner: George Hewett 

Interstate Coterie Award

The Sydney Blues and Adelaide Blues decide their standout player of the season.

2025 winner: George Hewett