[1] Adam Cooney of the Western Bulldogs won the medal by polling twenty-four votes during the 2008 AFL season.

[3] Cooney polled twenty-four votes, one ahead of Brisbane's Simon Black, who won the award in 2002 and was equal second in 2007.

In 2008 many of the leading contenders including Coleman Medallist Lance Franklin, Sam Mitchell, Adam Goodes, Brett Burton and Daniel Kerr all were found guilty of an offence and were ineligible to win the medal.

When Ablett injured his ankle and missed three matches, Brent Harvey moved to outright favourite.

By the end of the season however, Ablett had returned to favouritism, with 2007 winner Jimmy Bartel, Harvey and Adam Cooney close behind.