Hayward Medal 2015: Busselton's Chris Kane wins the SWFL's top honour

Footy HQ - WA was there every step of the way covering the event at the Lighthouse Beach Resort. Scroll down to read how the Hayward Medal night unfolded and find out who won all the major awards.

10:25pm: Busselton's Chris Kane has stormed home to win the 2015 Hayward Medal.

Kane trailed by four votes with three rounds remaining but, polled the maximum three votes in each of those games to finishe with 25 votes, two ahead of Carey Park's Graham Jetta and five clear of Harvey's Josh Krispyn.

Here's a rundown of all the players who were best on ground (received three votes) in every match from Rounds 16-18 and the final leaderboard.

Round 16

Round 17

Round 18

And, the final leaderboard.

10:20pm: The Fairfax Media medal (for the colts player of the year) goes to Gaetan Mwanangela from the Bunbury Bulldogs, while the South Western Times medal for the reserves player of the year was won by Chris McMillan from Carey Park.

10:15pm: Could Graham Jetta be coming back to the pack? He only polled one vote from Rounds 11-15 in the SWFL. The big mover was Hamish Shepheard from Augusta-Margaret River who put in three best-on-ground performances in this time.

Here's a rundown of all the players who were best on ground (received three votes) in every match from Rounds 11-15 and the overall leaderboard.

Round 11

Round 12

Round 13

Round 14

Round 15

Leaderboard

10:10pm: The Future Star award for the SWFL in 2015 (for the best under 19 player) goes to Tremayne Briggs from Harvey. Briggs played a key role in helping the Bulls reach their inaugural finals series.

10:05pm: The League rising star award goes to Max Paterson from Augusta-Margaret River.  Paterson beat Travis Cleggett from Collie and Jackson Arbon from Busselton.

Here's the Rising Star leaderboard.

10pm: The Slater and Gordon League player of the year is Chris Kane from Busselton. Kane, pipped Harvey's Josh Krispyn by two votes who was a further four votes in front of Kane's Busselton team-mate Dan McGinlay. Our runaway Hayward Medal leader Graham Jetta was fifth.

Here's the full leaderboard.

9:45pm: Graham Jetta could be polling at a record pace according to our Footy HQ - WA experts. 

Last year Jessie Gribble won with 27 votes and Jetta is on track to beat that comfortably. The all time record for Hayward Medal votes is Peter Ivanoff (AMR) who polled 39 in 1981. Aaron Marley from Mines Rovers (now Collie) got 37 in 1999. 

Jetta is already in front of Craig Chriswell (Donnybrook, 15 votes, winner in 2002) and tied with John Klumpp (HBL, 18 votes, 2007 winner). 

9:30pm: At the halfway mark of the Hayward Medal count Graham Jetta (Carey Park) is a mile in front, having polled five more votes than second-placed Josh Krispyn (Harvey).

Here's a rundown of all the players who were best on ground (received three votes) in every match from Rounds 6-10 and the overall leaderboard.

Round 6

Round 7

Round 8

Round 9

Round 10

Leaderboard

9:20pm: The reserves player of the year is Chris McMillan from Carey Park. As well as playing McMillan is also the club president. Here's the reserves leaderboard.

9:15pm: The colts player of the year is Lachlan Hernaman from the Harvey Bulls. Here is the final leaderboard.

9:10pm: The SWFL has paid tribute to Donnybrook footballer Chris 'Crackers' Sheehan who sadly lost his life after the motorcycle he was riding hit a tree earlier this season.

There was a minute of silence while a sideshow of photos of him played. 

Former teammate of Sheehan’s and Donnybrook Football Club stalwart Shane Atherton told Footy HQ - WA earlier this year the club would not quite be the same without him and that he would be remembered as a spiritual leader and a “bloody tough player”

9:05pm: After five rounds of the Hayward Medal and Graham Jetta has surged into the lead after polling the maximum three votes in each of Carey Park's first three games.

Here's a rundown of all the players who were best on ground (received three votes) in every match from Rounds 1-5 and the leaderboard.

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Leaderboard

8:30pm: Have you had dinner yet? If not these photos of the main meals at Hayward Medal night are going to make you pretty hungry right about now.

8:20pm: There's a special award which has just been handed out tonight to the SWFL volunteer of the year. The winner is Cheray Freeman from the Donnybrook who has been canteen manager, bar manager, secretary, register and team manager among many other jobs for the football club. 

Well done Cheray and everyone else who volunteered this year! The SWFL wouldn't be as good as it is without your contributions.

8:15pm: The coaches player of the year goes to Graham Jetta from Carey Park with 33 votes.

In second place was Kane Bloxsidge from Eaton on 30 votes, while Chris Kane from Busselton was third with 22 and Josh Krispyn from Harvey fourth with 20.

8:10pm: The club championship award has been awarded to the Carey Park Football Club who finished with 275 points - only 2.5 points ahead of Busselton in second. 

8:05pm: The leading goalkicking awards have been announced for the 2015 SWFL season with Carey Park picking up a clean sweep in the League, Reserves and Colts competitions.

Colts - Max Websdale, Carey Park, 67 goals.

Reserves - Glen Garlett, Carey Park, 54 goals.  

League (overall) - Matt Martin, Carey Park, 72 goals.

League (most goals kicked by an under 19) - Jarrod Humphries, Eaton, 19 goals.

This is also the third year in a row than Glen Garlett has won the reserves goalkicking award. 

7:55pm: Jace Cormack (Eaton), Graham Jetta (Carey park), Chris Andrew (South Bunbury), Kurt Tropiano (Bunbury) and Simon Parry (Donnybrook) were also congratulated for being named SWFL landmark all stars while the Landmark fairest and best medal was presented to Graham Jetta. 

The colts best and fairest for the Landmark carnival was also presented to Ethan Bowman from Busselton who was the captain of the SWFL side.

7:45pm: The first award handed out on the evening is the South West Football League's Landmark Country Football Championship winning coach Jamie Nani.

Nani lead the SWFL to a fifth-straight title at the Landmark Country Football Championships earlier this year when they beat the Upper Great Southern Football League in the grand final to the tune of 40 points.

A best on ground performance from Eaton Boomers young gun Denholm King saw the SWFL to a brilliant 13.6.84 to 7.2.44 victory.

Meanwhile midfielder Graham Jetta's dominant form throughout the week saw him win the Jock Coleman trophy as the best player throughout the entire carnival.

7:30pm: South West Football League president Kevin Lynn has officially opening proceedings at the 2015 Hayward Medal count. The first lot of awards are just minutes away. Stay tuned and we will have them for you shortly.

7:20pm: We've added in some social photos of those at the count in the gallery above and here's a look at how the room looks.

7:10pm: Those of you at home feeling hungry, look away now. Here's the dinner menu for tonight:

Entree

Masterstock braised pork belly 

Or, marinated tiger prawns

Main

Chermoula marinated breast of chicken (served on roasted baby potatoes, baby spinach and tomato coulis)

Or, sirloin of beef served with roast potato and red wine braised cabbage. 

Dessert

Vanilla and citrus cheesecake with baked rhubarb

Or, chocolate fondant pudding. 

6:50pm: Players are currently enjoying pre-drinks while they wait for everyone to arrive. While we wait for the medal count to get underway let's recap our main Footy HQ writers predictions for tonight's winner.

Justin Rake is tipping Carey Park's gun midfielder Graham Jetta to get the job while Andrew Elstermann is predicting Busselton's Chris Kane will come out on top.

Who do you think will win? Have your say by voting in our poll further down the story. So far, with just under 100 votes posted, Harvey Bulls tough midfielder Josh Krispyn leads the way on 25 votes from Graham Jetta (20) and Chris Kane (12). 

6:30pm: The history of the Hayward Medal. 

The South West Football League in conjunction with Dale Alcock Homes give thanks to the Hayward Family for maintaining a long family and valued tradition in South West Football. 

The First Hayward Medal was presented in 1946 to Reg "Bunny" Hayes of the Pastimes/Carey Park Football Club and from there it has grown to have a long and proud history that recognises the champions of our game. 

The Hayward Medal is the most prestigious award in South West Football and tonight another winner will join the long list of stars to have earned the prestigious honour.

6pm: Welcome to Footy HQ – WA's live coverage of the 2015 South West Football League Hayward Medal from the Lighthouse Beach Resort. 

The medal recognises the best league player throughout the season and there are a number of players in contention. 

Bunbury's Jesse Gribble claimed last year's medal and this year it is sure to be another great affair. 

The team from Footy HQ – WA have spent some time going through their coverage of season 2015 to establish who the umpires may have awarded votes to in each game.

If our predictions are correct then Carey Park’s Graham Jetta will be leading halfway through the count before Busselton’s Chris Kane comes storming home to claim the medal.

Read our predicted top 10 and full votes here. 

What do you think? Vote for your winner in our poll below.

Jetta has been touted as a Hayward Medal favourite all season with a number of best on ground performances.

But will the Panther's star share the votes with goal-kicking machine Matt Martin too many times to finish with the highest total?

Josh Krispyn from the Harvey Bulls, Busselton captain Dan McGinlay and last year’s runner up Chris Atthowe from Eaton are also in contention.

Check back here for live updates throughout the count and like the Footy HQ – WA Facebook page for the latest.