Ross Glendinning Medal

The Ross Glendinning Medal is awarded to the player judged best on ground in the Western Derby football match played between Fremantle Football Club and the West Coast Eagles.

It is named after and awarded by WA Football legend Ross Glendinning, who was the inaugural captain of the West Coast Eagles and is a former Fremantle chairman of selectors. It is voted by Glendinning and a selection of media representatives.

Controversies

*Round 5, 2003: The five media selectors chose Ashley Sampi as the preferred recipient, but Glendinning overruled them and awarded the medal to Michael Gardiner. [cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/cgi-bin/common/popupPrintArticle.pl?path=/realfooty/articles/2004/04/26/1082831496754.html|title=Derby brings out best in Fletcher|work=The Age|date=2004-04-27|accessdate=2008-02-15]

*Round 3 and round 22, 2005: Chris Judd was selected as the winner despite Daniel Kerr being regarded by many to be Best On Ground in both matches, including by the umpires, who awarded three Brownlow Medal votes to Kerr in both games. Even though Judd had 31 disposals and kicked a goal in Round 3, while Kerr had a mere 20 disposals, suggesting Judd was the correct winner of the medal.

*Round 6, 2006: Fremantle won a hard fought match where the lead changed hands 12 times and the margin between the two teams was never more than 12 points. On announcing Chris Judd as the winner, the highly charged Fremantle crowd booed loudly, resulting in widespread condemnation from the media and from both coaches. [cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200605/s1632378.htm|title=Connolly gives Dockers fans a serve|work=ABC Sport|date=2006-05-07|accessdate=2008-02-15]

*Round 3, 2007: Michael Braun finishes his acceptance speech with "Let's have a fucking good year". He was fined $5,000 by the AFL, who overruled the $500 penalty given to him by his club. [cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200704/s1897464.htm|title=Eagles red-faced after Braun swears on stage|work=ABC News Online|date=2007-04-15|accessdate=2008-02-15] [cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/West-Coasts-Braun-fined-5000-by-AFL/2007/04/16/1176696746683.html|title=West Coast's Braun fined $5000 by AFL|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2007-04-16|accessdate=2008-02-15]

References