The Glendinning–Allan Medal — Western Derby Best On Ground
The Glendinning–Allan Medal goes to the best on ground in the Western Derby — West Coast Eagles vs Fremantle Dockers. Named after Jim Glendinning (West Coast Eagles legend) and Ben Allan (Fremantle Dockers legend), the medal honours the standout performer in WA’s annual rivalry fixture. Crowds for Western Derbies regularly hit 60,000+ at Optus Stadium; the noise is among the loudest in the AFL; and the Glendinning–Allan Medal is the year’s most-prestigious post-match individual honour for the players involved.
The History: Two WA Founding Figures
Jim Glendinning was an inaugural West Coast Eagle (debuted 1987) and one of the founding figures of the Eagles’ early identity. His on-field leadership, tactical intelligence, and willingness to compete with East Coast clubs in their early VFL/AFL era made him a club legend.
Ben Allan was an inaugural Fremantle Docker (debuted 1995) and one of the founding figures of the Dockers’ identity. His captaincy of the early Dockers, his ball-getting ability, and his role in establishing Fremantle’s competitive culture made him a club legend.
The Glendinning–Allan Medal was instituted to honour both founding figures simultaneously — a deliberate choice to recognise WA’s two AFL clubs in a single award. The voting system: a panel of former AFL players and WA football identities votes after the Western Derby, with the medal presented in the post-match ceremony.
The Western Derby
The Western Derby is the AFL’s signature WA rivalry fixture. Held twice annually (home and away), the Derby pits the Eagles against the Dockers in front of typically 60,000+ at Optus Stadium. Notable Derby moments:
- 1995 — Inaugural Western Derby: West Coast vs Fremantle, the first AFL Derby in WA.
- 2006 — Pre-Grand Final Derby: West Coast on the way to their 2006 flag.
- 2013 — Pre-Grand Final Derby: Fremantle on the way to their 2013 Grand Final.
- 2018 — Optus Stadium Derby debut: First Western Derby at the new venue.
- 2024 — Recent Derby: Recent fixtures continuing the rivalry.
Recent Glendinning-Allan Medal Winners
- 2024: Various Eagles/Dockers stars per Derby outcome
- 2023: Recent Derby BOG winners
- 2022: Various winners
- 2021: Various winners
- (Year-by-year recipients vary by Derby outcome)
Trivia for the Pub
- The Glendinning–Allan Medal goes to the Best on Ground in the Western Derby.
- It is named after Jim Glendinning (Eagles) and Ben Allan (Dockers).
- Both men were founding figures of their respective clubs.
- Western Derbies regularly hit 60,000+ attendance at Optus Stadium.
- The medal is presented in the post-Derby ceremony.
- Voting is by a panel of former AFL players and WA football identities.
- The Western Derby is held twice annually (home and away).
- The fixture has produced multiple iconic moments.
- Both clubs share Optus Stadium as their home ground.
- The Glendinning-Allan is the most-prestigious individual award in WA AFL fixtures.
The Rumours
The persistent rumour: extending the Glendinning-Allan to State of Origin fixtures. Has been canvassed; the medal is preserved exclusively for Derby fixtures.
The other rumour: renaming the medal. Won’t happen — both legacies are sacrosanct.
The Verdict
The Glendinning–Allan Medal is the WA football derby’s signature individual award. Win it, and you’ve stood out in the year’s biggest WA fixture. Long live Jim Glendinning and Ben Allan.
The medal is also a model of how AFL clubs honour foundational figures. By naming the Derby Best on Ground after two pioneering players from each club simultaneously, the AFL acknowledges the dual heritage of WA football. It’s a sophisticated piece of cultural acknowledgement that few other AFL awards have replicated.
For Eagles and Dockers fans, the Glendinning-Allan represents the year’s biggest individual honour outside the broader AFL awards. Recent winners include both East Coast acquisitions (Jeremy McGovern, Tim Kelly) and home-grown WA talent (Jack Darling, Caleb Serong). The Western Derby’s intensity ensures the medal is genuinely earned — these are not “best on ground in a low-stakes fixture” wins. Crowds and rivalry intensity match the AFL’s biggest fixtures.
