The Western Force’s most outstanding 2025 performers will be recognized on Friday night when the Club holds its Season Awards at Optus Stadium, headlined by the Nathan Sharpe medal for the best men’s player.
There’s no shortage of contenders for the prestigious gong, named after the Club’s inaugural captain and previously won by club legends like Matt Giteau, Ben McCalman, Dane Haylett-Petty and Matt Hodgson (three times).
Tickets to the Force-Lions game are on sale now via Ticketmaster.
Openside flanker Carlo Tizzano heads into the evening as one of the favourites after a stand-out campaign that saw him break the Club record for most tries in a single Super Rugby season. Tizzano also broke the record for the most tries by a forward in a single Super Rugby season and is likely to finish atop the league’s try scorers’ list with 13.
Tizzano’s exploits weren’t isolated to offence, sitting top of the Super Rugby’s tackles list with 198 heading into the final round where the Force have the bye.
One tackle behind Tizzano on the Super Rugby tackles list is workhorse prop Tom Robertson, who has had an exemplary season where he hasn’t missed a game, displaying consistency with some flair highlighted by his running try against the Queensland Reds in Round 7.
Wallabies winger Harry Potter scored an impressive seven tries during the season, but he’s also sitting in the top three league-wide for clean breaks (20), defenders beaten (47) and offloads (15), producing career-best form with his elusive runs, high ball strength and creativity in attack.
The Force’s locks pairing of Darcy Swain and Jeremy Williams has been a major highlight and was a critical part of the side’s success through the first half of the season. Swain is the league leader for lineouts won (79) with Williams fifth on 43.
Full-back Mac Grealy has been a quiet achiever with a fine debut season in Force blue, highlighted by 878 metres gained, putting him second in Super Rugby in that category. He also scored six tries.
Back-rower Nick Champion de Crespigny is another inside the top 10 for tackles with 188 and he’s had a strong impact, while reigning Nathan Sharpe medal winner Ben Donaldson has had some special moments including his last-minute winning try against Moana Pasifika in Round 1 and he sits in the top 10 for offloads.
Scrum-half Nic White has been a key contributor with his playmaking ability along with inside-centre Hamish Stewart and hooker Nic Dolly, while front-rower Marley Pearce and winger Dylan Pietsch made good impacts when available.
Stay tuned to Western Force social media (follow along on Twitter and Instagram) on Friday night to find out all the winners.
Tickets to the Force-Lions game are on sale now via Ticketmaster.
Nathan Sharpe Medal – Honour Roll
2024 - Ben Donaldson
2023 - Sam Spink
2022 - Tim Anstee and Manasa Mataele
2021 – Kane Koteka
2020 – Fergus Lee-Warner
2019 – Issak Fines-Leleiwasa
2018 – Brynard Stander
2017 – Isi Naisarani
2016 – Dane Haylett-Petty
2015 – Ben McCalman
2014 – Matt Hodgson
2013 – Kyle Godwin
2012 – David Pocock
2011 – David Smith
2010 – Matt Hodgson
2009 – Matt Hodgson
2008 – Ryan Cross
2007 – Matt Giteau
2006 – Scott Staniforth
Tickets to the Force-Lions game are on sale now via Ticketmaster.
