The
Douglas Wilkie Medal is an award presented to those who do the least for
Australian rules football, in the best and fairest manner. An accolade presented by the
Anti-Football League, it is named after
Douglas Wilkie, a
Sun News-Pictorial columnist who wrote for the paper during the years 1946-1986. It was Douglas Wilkie who first suggested the notion of an Anti-Football League, which was brought into being by
Keith Dunstan. The League exists as a response to the overwhelming obsession of football by the
Melbourne public.
The award is the League's answer to the Australian Rules' Brownlow Medal, an honour bestowed on footballers whom throughout the season play in a skilled and sportsman like fashion.
Following the suggestion of fellow writer Cyril Pearl, who wished to burn a football to express his disaffection for the game, the winner must destroy a football in a unique and creative manner on receiving their medal.
Previous Winners