Peter Bell's iron fisted rule has come to an end. The littlest captain with the biggest heart has decided to hang up what ever it is that captains hang up when they retire. Bell announced to a packed Perth Convention Shed that he would be standing down as captain next year to give the next generation a go at the job. He then continued on that theme by letting Pav win the Doig Medal.

Matthew Pavlich who, let's face it, is a monty to be captain next year, started what will be his long reign by bringing home back to back Doigs.

Fremantle have abandoned the hippy, new-age flowers in your hair, let's give everyone a vote, voting system that has infiltrated the AFL and sees players winning medals with 477 votes, and have adopted for the do what we say or no one gets a vote system. If they think you've played well enough and the match committee can be bothered, they either give you 4 votes (outstanding), 3 votes (excellent), 2 votes (very good) or 1 vote (good). Pavlich won with 34 votes which is a long way down from his effort last year when he was forced to carry the club for half the season.

Still, the award didn't come as a huge shock, what with his 71 goals for the season, complete dominance of the Fremantle forward line and top ranking in the Brownlow voting, but the packed house of cashed up supporters feigned a bit of enthusiasm all the same as Pavlich collected the Doig and became only the second multiple Doig Medal winner in the history of the club. The only other player to achieve the feet was a little Korean by the name of Peter Bell who used to captain Fremantle.

Bell didn't embarrass himself though and tied with Michael Johnson for second place (the Silver or "Scotty" Doig). After a season of showing no signs that he's slowing up, Shane Parker defied recent criticism from the outer by claiming 4th spot (the Rose of "Hooky" Doig). Josh Carr and Aaron Sandilands' symbiotic relationship further strengthened with equal 5th place. Jeff Farmer refused to share 7th spot. David Mundy and Steven Dodd polled 21 votes to finish 8th. And Matthew Carr tied with Luke McPharlin to share 10th spot and the same arthroscopic surgeon.

The Beacon Award for the most promising young player (or the 'Edgar' Doig) was a Crowd favourite with Damien Drum's nephew joining the select club, Luke Webster picked up the Best Clubman award (the 'Ron' Doig), Aaron Sandilands won the very rare “Billy” Doig for Best Player in the Finals as well as the Most Likely to Eat His Opponent Trophy and Paul Duffield won the Fewster Plate for Best Player in the WAFL.