Matt Dea has been named Essendon’s Adam Ramanauskas Most Courageous Player for 2018, receiving the award at Thursday night’s Crichton Medal.

The highly-respected award is presented to a player who puts others before himself and displays personal courage on and off the field.

This is the second time Dea has received the title, after the tough defender claimed the award in 2016 – his first season at the club.

The tough defender played 12 games in 2018 and his unwavering courage was displayed in each of his performances both in the senior side and the VFL.

A clear example of Dea’s determination to put his body on the line occurred in round 19, when he went back with the flight into a marking contest, coming off second best and suffering a significant head knock on the hard deck at Marvel Stadium.

In the following week, Dea made the decision to pull himself out of the side’s next game – despite being cleared by the club’s medical staff – showing great character and maturity to ensure he would be 100 per cent fit when he next took the field.

A consistent and tough player, Dea’s ability to read the play and quash the opposition’s attack was an important weapon this year and his courage continued to inspire his teammates throughout the season.

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