Defender Jesse Corigliano has been awarded the 2022 Jim Sullivan Medal, in a thrilling vote count where just five votes separated the top five players.
Corigliano (106) finished one vote ahead of Jack Maibaum (Brad Nimmo Medal Runner Up – 105) with Braedyn Gillard closely behind on (Vin Taranto Medal 3rd Place – 104). First year player Flynn Gentile followed on 103 votes with Luke Nelson rounding out the top five on 101 votes.
The count went down to the last match of the season against Southport. At the halfway point Maibaum had a four-vote lead over the eventual winner. With one round to go Maibaum, Corigliano and Gillard were all tied on 100 votes with Gentile two votes behind on 98.
Corigliano claimed his maiden VFL best and fairest after a run of top-10 finishes. It also follows his Eric Lines Medal in 2016 as Coburg’s VFL Development League Best and Fairest.
The long kicking half-back had 26 disposals against Collingwood in Round 6 and also had a great performance against Essendon in Round 10 with 21 disposals and 11 marks. Corigliano ran forward to kick two goals in 2022, a memorable long bomb from 50 against Carlton and kicked another goal in the club’s win over Geelong.
Playing in all 18 matches this season, 2022 was Corigliano’s eighth season at the club. Now Coburg’s current longest serving player the 26-year-old has played 80 VFL games.
Corigliano said it was nice to have his role recognised and to be awarded the Jim Sullivan Medal.
“If you told me I’d win a VFL best and fairest when I first started here I’d never have believed you and now to be included amongst some of the previous winners is a pretty surreal feeling ,” Corigliano said.
“I love playing down back with those guys and really just doing whatever I can to help the team, so it’s nice to be recognised and appreciated for that.”
“I love this footy club and am really proud to say I play here.”
Jim Sullivan Medal Top 10
Jesse Corigliano – 106
Jack Maibaum – 105
Braedyn Gillard – 104
Flynn Gentile – 103
Luke Nelson – 101
Mitch Podhajski – 100
Peter McEvoy – 98
Tom Silvestro – 95
Nathan Boucher – 86
Josh D’Intinosante – 85
