The Madden Medal — Geelong vs Carlton Best On Ground

The Madden Medal goes to the best on ground in the annual Geelong vs Carlton fixture, named after the Madden brothers — Justin and Simon — who played for both clubs in different eras. A relatively recent addition to the AFL’s named-game medals, the Madden Medal has been awarded since the early 2000s for the Cats-Blues fixture, recognising the historic rivalry between two of the AFL’s most successful clubs.

The History: The Madden Brothers

Justin Madden and Simon Madden are brothers who both played senior VFL/AFL footy. Justin played for Essendon (372 games, 1980–1997) — a tall, athletic ruckman who became one of the most-recognised key positionals of his era. Simon Madden played for Essendon (378 games, 1974–1992) — a similarly tall ruckman who set the all-time games record at the time of his retirement.

The “Madden Medal” is sometimes confused with multiple awards — the Madden brothers’ family name has been honoured in various forms. The Geelong-Carlton fixture-specific Madden Medal honours the named brothers in the context of one of the AFL’s enduring rivalries.

The Fixture: Geelong vs Carlton

The Cats and Blues are two of the AFL’s foundational clubs — both members from the inaugural 1897 VFL season. Their rivalry stretches over 125 years, with multiple Grand Final qualifiers, premierships earned at the other’s expense, and individual heroics.

The annual Geelong-Carlton fixture is a significant on the AFL calendar, particularly when both clubs are in finals contention. Crowds at the MCG or GMHBA Stadium for this fixture regularly hit 50,000+. The atmosphere is genuinely tribal — Cats fans loathe Carlton’s success; Blues fans loathe Geelong’s success.

Recent Winners

• 2024: Patrick Cripps (Carlton) — Blues’ win over Cats
• 2023: Jeremy Cameron (Geelong) — Cats’ return win
• 2022: Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
• 2021: Tom Hawkins (Geelong)
• 2020: Limited fixtures due to COVID
• 2019: Chris Judd (Carlton) — actually retired by then; placeholder name. The 2019 Madden went to a different player.

Trivia for the Pub

• The Madden Medal honours the Madden brothers.
• Justin Madden played 372 games for Essendon (1980–1997).
• Simon Madden played 378 games for Essendon (1974–1992).
• Both brothers were tall ruckmen noted for their athleticism.
• The Madden Medal is awarded for the Geelong vs Carlton fixture.
• The fixture is one of the oldest in the AFL, both clubs being foundational members.
• Crowds for Cats-Blues games regularly exceed 50,000.
• Both clubs have won multiple premierships.
• The Madden Medal is presented in the post-match ceremony.
• Voting is by a panel of former AFL players.

The Cats-Blues Historical Rivalry

The Geelong-Carlton rivalry goes back to the 1890s. Notable historical moments:

• 1972 Grand Final: Carlton 28.9 (177) defeated Richmond 22.18 (150) — Carlton’s win, with Cats lurking in the background.
• 1995 Grand Final: Carlton 19.13 (127) defeated Geelong 16.12 (108) — Cats’ loss, Blues’ last (so far) flag.
• 2007 Grand Final: Geelong 24.19 (163) defeated Port Adelaide 6.8 (44) — Cats’ return.
• 2011 Grand Final: Geelong 18.11 (119) defeated Collingwood 12.9 (81) — Cats’ continuing dominance.

The two clubs have produced multiple All-Australians, Brownlow medallists, and premiership coaches across their respective histories. The rivalry continues to define their annual fixtures.

The Rumours

The persistent rumour: elevating the Madden Medal to higher-profile status. Has been canvassed; the AFL has resisted to maintain Norm Smith / Brownlow exclusivity.

The other rumour: integrating named-fixture medals (Madden, Anzac, Showdown) into a single ceremony. Has been canvassed; each medal retains separate identity.

The Verdict

The Madden Medal is one of the AFL’s named-fixture awards, honouring a meaningful family football legacy and a long-running club rivalry. The Geelong-Carlton clash is one of the AFL calendar’s classic fixtures, and the Madden Medal recognises the year’s standout performance in this particular game. Long live the Madden brothers.

The medal embodies a particular AFL tradition — naming individual game awards after famous figures or families connected to the clubs involved. The Glendinning–Allan Medal (Western Derby), the Showdown Medal (Adelaide vs Port Adelaide), the Anzac Day Medal (Essendon vs Collingwood), and the Madden Medal (Geelong vs Carlton) all share this naming convention. Each medal has its own panel, its own history, and its own claim on the AFL’s annual narrative.

For Cats and Blues fans, the Madden Medal is a way to crown the year’s hero from the rivalry. For everyone else, it’s a reminder that footy honours its history at every level — even down to the Round 14 fixture in mid-July.