The John Nicholls Medal, Carlton’s Best & Fairest Award, will signal the final commitment of the 2012 season for the Blues.

The Carlton players will gather at Crown Palladium with over 1,000 supporters on Tuesday October 2nd for the John Nicholls Medal Dinner. As well as the awarding of the John Nicholls Medal and place getters, other awards to be presented at the function include Best Clubman, Best First Year Player, Player Ambassador, Past Palyers Encouragement, Carltonians Achievement and the Blues Coterie ‘Fierce’ Awards.

A poll on the Carlton website has Heath Scotland as favourite to win this year’s John Nicholls Medal with Eddie Betts the second favourite. Last year’s winner, Marc Murphy, missed six games during the season while Captain Chris Judd, who won the previous three Nicholls Medals, missed five matches during 2012.

Missing this many games will dent the chances of either winning the medal this season and as a result we can expect to see a new winner with the only other current player to have won the Award, Andrew Carrazzo, having missed eight games during the season.

Only six players played 20 or more games for Carlton in 2012:
•    Dennis Armfield - 21
•    Eddie Betts - 22
•    Jeff Garlett - 22
•    Bryce Gibbs - 22
•    Matthew Kreuzer - 20
•    Heath Scotland - 21

Seven players will be in line for the Best First Year Player Award with all seven making their Carlton and AFL debut during 2012.
•    Tom Bell
•    Josh Bootsma
•    Levi Casboult
•    Frazer Dale
•    Patrick McCarthy
•    Andrew McInnes
•    Luke Mitchell

The Carlton Website will stream with John Nicholls Medal live through CFC TV on Tuesday October 2nd from 7.30pm.