The Coleman Medal — The AFL’s Leading Goalkicker

The Coleman Medal goes to the AFL’s leading goalkicker each home-and-away season. Named after Essendon legend John Coleman — who kicked 537 goals in 98 games before injury ended his career — the medal is won by the player who slots the most majors during the regular season. Tony Lockett, Jason Dunstall, Tony Modra, Lance Franklin, Jeremy Cameron, Charlie Curnow: the Coleman roll-call reads like a goal-kicking Hall of Fame. If you’ve kicked 90 goals in a year, you’ve probably won one. If you’ve kicked 150 (Bob Pratt, 1934), you’re a club legend.

The History: John Coleman and the 1955 Origin

The leading goalkicker has been recognised since the inaugural VFL season in 1897. The first formal trophy was the “Leading Goalkicker Trophy”, awarded annually but without a named medal. In 1981 the trophy was renamed the Coleman Medal after John Coleman.

John Coleman was an Essendon centre-half-forward who debuted in 1949 and played until 1954, when a knee injury ended his career at age 24. In 98 games he kicked 537 goals — an average of 5.5 goals per game, the highest career average in VFL/AFL history. Coleman’s 1953 season (152 goals) was an all-time record at the time. He died in 1973, aged 44.

The medal is awarded at the AFL’s annual awards ceremony in early September. The recipient receives a bronze medallion, public acclaim, and (often) the AFL Players Association’s Most Valuable Forward award shortly afterwards.

Modern Coleman Era

The Coleman Medal has been hotly contested since the 1970s as forward-line specialists became more prominent. Recent winners:

• 2025: TBD
• 2024: Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
• 2023: Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
• 2022: Charlie Curnow (Carlton) — third in a row
• 2021: Tom Hawkins (Geelong)
• 2020: Tom Hawkins (Geelong)
• 2019: Jeremy Cameron (GWS)
• 2018: Ben Brown (North Melbourne)
• 2017: Lance Franklin (Sydney)
• 2016: Josh J Kennedy (West Coast)
• 2015: Josh J Kennedy (West Coast)
• 2014: Lance Franklin (Sydney)
• 2013: Lance Franklin (Hawthorn)
• 2012: Jack Riewoldt (Richmond)
• 2011: Lance Franklin (Hawthorn)
• 2010: Jack Riewoldt (Richmond)

The Multiple-Coleman Club

• 4 Coleman Medals: Tony Lockett (1987, 1991, 1996, 1998), Lance Franklin (2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017 — actually 5)
• 5 Coleman Medals: Lance Franklin (2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017)
• 3 Coleman Medals: Charlie Curnow (2022, 2023, 2024), Jason Dunstall (1989, 1992, 1993), Tony Modra (1993, 1997, 1999)
• 2 Coleman Medals: Many — Tom Hawkins, Josh J Kennedy, Jack Riewoldt, others

The Pre-Coleman Era (Leading Goalkickers)

Before the Coleman Medal was instituted in 1981, leading goalkickers were still recognised — just without a medal. The all-time greats of this era:

• Bob Pratt (South Melbourne): 1934 — 150 goals (still the all-time single-season record).
• Peter Hudson (Hawthorn): 1971 — 150 goals (tied with Pratt). Hudson kicked 727 goals across his career.
• Doug Wade (Geelong/North Melbourne): leading goalkicker multiple times.
• Gary Ablett Sr (Hawthorn/Geelong): leading goalkicker multiple times despite being a centre-half-forward.

The 100-Goal Season

Kicking 100+ goals in a season is the modern standard for a “great” Coleman performance. Players to do it:

• Bob Pratt (1934, 150)
• Peter Hudson (1971, 150; multiple 100+ seasons)
• Tony Lockett (multiple 100+ seasons; total 1,360 career goals)
• Jason Dunstall (multiple 100+ seasons)
• Tony Modra (1993, 129)
• Lance Franklin (multiple 100+ seasons)
• Jeremy Cameron (one 100+ season)

Note: Buddy Franklin’s 2013 season (Hawthorn era) was the most-watched 100-goal pursuit in modern AFL history. Franklin reached 100 in Round 22 against Sydney at the MCG, in front of 50,000 fans. The crowd erupted; the broadcast went viral.

Trivia for the Pub

• The Coleman Medal was instituted in 1981.
• The medal is named after John Coleman (Essendon, 1949–1954).
• Coleman’s career average — 5.5 goals per game — is the highest in VFL/AFL history.
• Lance Franklin’s five Coleman Medals are the all-time record.
• Tony Lockett’s 1,360 career goals are the all-time goalkicking record.
• The leading goalkicker pre-1981 was recognised but unmedaled.
• Bob Pratt’s 150 goals in 1934 remains the single-season record (tied with Peter Hudson, 1971).
• Charlie Curnow won three Coleman Medals in three consecutive seasons (2022, 2023, 2024).
• The 100-goal season is the modern benchmark for an elite Coleman performance.
• Coleman Medals are awarded at the AFL Awards ceremony in early September.

The Rumours

The persistent rumour: finals goals counting toward the Coleman. Currently only home-and-away goals count. Has been canvassed periodically; the AFL has resisted to preserve historical comparison.

The other rumour: positional eligibility expansion. The Coleman has historically gone to forwards; some argue midfielders kicking high tallies should be eligible. Already eligible — Brad Hardie (1985 leading goalkicker as a wingman) is the historical precedent.

The Verdict

The Coleman Medal is the AFL’s goalkicking gold standard. Lance Franklin’s five medals, Tony Lockett’s 1,360 career goals, Bob Pratt’s 1934 record — every era of forward-line dominance has its Coleman archetype. Win one, and you’re a goalkicking legend; win five, and you’re Buddy. Long live John Coleman.