It’s that time of the year again.

On Friday night, Collingwood’s best and fairest player from the 2017 home and away season will be awarded the E.W. Copeland.

Votes came from Nathan Buckley, Robert Harvey, Brenton Sanderson and Scott Burns, with each coach able to award up to 22 votes for each match.

But which Magpie caught their eye the most this year?

We’ve compiled a form guide below with some of the key contenders for the 2017 Copeland Trophy.

Brodie Grundy |
The star of this South Australian continues to rise as he settles into life as a Magpie. However it was 2017 that Grundy truly became one of the elite big men of the competition. Not fazed by external opinions or pressure, Grundy was simply focussing on greater improvement when his name was thrown around among mid-year All-Australian suggestions. His hit-outs per game were significantly higher than ever before, while he also proved his worth up forward when playing in tandem with Mason Cox late in the year. Even more good news? A contract extension until the end of the 2020 season means Grundy will be attending a few more Copeland Trophy’s in the years to come.



Brodie Grundy tussles with Max Gawn in round 23. Image: AFL Photos.

Tyson Goldsack | Was this man the surprise package of 2017? After being limited to just four games in 2016, Goldsack appeared 20 times this season. Coach Nathan Buckley can verify he would have been one of the first defenders picked each week to apply enormous pressure on opposition forwards. Goldsack’s tenacity was never ending and his courage sometimes defied logic. During a round 11 trip to Perth, he was moved forward and played out almost an entire game against Fremantle with a fractured scapula. It’s been 12 years since James Clement won his second Copeland Trophy. Could Goldsack do his fellow defenders justice and take home this prestigious award in 2017?



Teammates salute Tyson Goldsack from the ground after his 150th game against Hawthorn. Image: AFL Photos.

Adam Treloar | Another outstanding season for the eye-catching midfield with a devastating burst of speed. A second All-Australian 40-man squad nomination came this year after a season consisting of 21 games, 13 goals and a disposal average of 29.9 per appearance. Treloar has proved to be worth every cent in his first two seasons at Collingwood after crossing from Greater Western Sydney. He won an RT Rush Trophy for second place in the Copeland Trophy last year, and has had almost identical stats in 2017. A big difference between this year and last? Treloar’s impressive performances in the absence of captain Scott Pendlebury in the late stages of the season. Expect a late charge in voting for the 23-year-old onballer.|



Adam Treloar played 21 games of consistent football in 2017. Image: AFL Photos.

Scott Pendlebury | History will be made in the Palladium at Crown if Scott Pendlebury takes home a record sixth Copeland Trophy. A victory will see the captain pass the great Len Thompson, and draw level with Nathan Buckley for the most Best and Fairest accolades in Collingwood’s history. However 2017 was the first time the captain took the field less than 21 times in a season since 2007. The cause for time on the sidelines? A badly broken finger. While the injury ended Pendlebury’s season in round 17, outstanding games against the Western Bulldogs (35 disposals, one goal), Geelong (33 disposals, one goal) and Hawthorn (36 disposals, one goal) should once again position our superstar leader at the pointy end of tonight’s voting tally.



Scott Pendlebury was Collingwood's highest poller in the 2017 Brownlow Medal. Image: AFL Photos.

Taylor Adams | 2017 finally provided the continuity Adams has been craving since he arrived at the Holden Centre three years ago. While injuries have cruelled the hard-working midfielder in the past, but he was one of five Magpies to play all 22 home and away games this season. With quantity also came quality of performance. Adams won more of the ball this season than any of his teammates, while also leading the club for contested possessions, clearances and tackles. A proven vote-getter in the AFLPA Coaches Award voting, Adams’ discipline and desire to compete should see him strongly contend for this year’s Copeland Trophy.



For the first time in his career, Taylor Adams didn't miss a home and away game in 2017. Image: AFL Photos.

Steele Sidebottom | Forever the bridesmaid on Copeland Trophy night, could this be the year Steele Sidebottom wins an elusive Best and Fairest award? The 26-year-old is a consistently strong performer, as proven by five top-five finishes in Collingwood’s Best and Fairest. Beginning with a breakout game against the Western Bulldogs in round one, Sidebottom had eight 30+ disposal games throughout the home and away season. While his performance with the ball was first-class, this was also the year he stepped up as a leader. Scott Pendlebury’s absence from round 18 onwards meant Sidebottom was elevated to captaincy duties. Through his leadership, the Magpies won three games and drew another in the final six games of the season.



Steele Sidebottom had 32 disposals and a goal against the Gold Coast SUNS in round 17. Image: AFL Photos.

Jeremy Howe | Jeremy Howe took leaps in 2017 which extended far beyond his remarkable overhead marking prowess. Yes, there were the trademark screamers – notably against Melbourne in rounds 12 and 23. But as a key pillar in defence, Howe was also one of the most valuable members of Collingwood’s starting 22. With an innate ability to read the play and dictate the flow of possession, Howe was instrumental in sending the Magpies’ forward from defence throughout the year. He took 38 more marks than any other teammate, while also collecting 24 more rebound 50s over the course of the season. A nomination in the 40-man All-Australian team in 2017 may be joined by an inaugural Copeland Trophy victory.



Jeremy Howe was elevated into Collingwood's leadership group midway through the 2017 season. Image: AFL Photos.

Who’s your tip on our night of nights? Cast your vote below on which Magpie you think was the most impressive in 2017.