Tom Campbell has clinched Sandringham’s Neil Bencraft Best & Fairest by the slimmest of margins, edging out runner-up Leo Connolly by a single vote off the back of his sterling debut season for the Zebras. 

Campbell (125 votes) averaged a whopping 37 hit-outs, 21 disposals and eight clearances from his 12 appearances, finishing among his side’s best and most influential players in all but one game.

Just one vote separated each place-getter from first through to fourth, with Connolly (124), captain Anthony Seaton (123) and Darby Hipwell (122) coming tantalisingly close to pinching top honours. Incredibly, Campbell played five fewer matches than runner-up Connolly (17), three less than Hipwell (15) and six less than Seaton (18) to claim the club's leading distinction.

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It is the 30-year-old’s second Best & Fairest at VFL level following his award-winning campaign for North Melbourne in 2019.

The St Kilda-listed ruckman, who registered two senior games in 2022, was also named in the 40-man VFL Team of the Year squad; the final line-up of which will be announced early next week. 

Blake Watson rounded out the top-five (118), Goy Lok and Mitch Riordan (117) tied in sixth, with Saints Matthew Allison (115), Tom Highmore (110) and Jack Bytel and Jack Peris (109) making up the top-10.

Tom Campbell celebrates a goal with Matthew Allison and Sam Dunell. Photo: AFL Photos.

Seaton was also awarded the Eric Mackenzie Memorial Trophy for Best Clubman, closing out the night as one of four players to receive multiple awards alongside Watson, Hipwell and Jake Lohmann.

In further recognition, Oliver Lowe earned Leading Goalkicker honours, Watson secured both the Greg Lyons Memorial Trophy for Most Courageous and Zeal Player of the Year, while Lohmann and Hipwell shared the Ed Hattam Memorial Trophy for the Most Determined Player. The pair also received the Coaches Award and Ray Patmore Trophy for Best First-Year Player respectively.

2022 Neil Bencraft Best & Fairest

1. Tom Campbell (125 votes)
2. Leo Connolly (124 votes)
3. Anthony Seaton (123 votes)
4. Darby Hipwell (122 votes)
5. Blake Watson (118 votes)
=6. Goy Lok (117 votes)
=6. Mitch Riordan (117 votes)
8. Matthew Allison (115 votes)
9. Tom Highmore (110 votes)
=10. Jack Bytel (109 votes)
=10. Jack Peris (109 votes)

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