ALL-AUSTRALIAN ruckman Dean Cox had to pick himself up off the canvas - literally - to receive his West Coast club champion award on Friday.

Cox, who had previously never finished better than third in the West Coast Eagles' best and fairest counts, sparred former world champion boxer Danny Green in a charity contest and bit the dust courtesy of a Green Machine special.

Cox was one of seven players from the Eagles and Fremantle Dockers to take on the ex-light heavyweight champ in a charity fundraiser for a children's hospital in Perth and their efforts helped to raise close to $120,000.

Green, who organised the event, was impressed by the manner in which Cox and his peers squared up in front of a 600-strong crowd.

"He's six feet eight in the old measurements and, while he is big and tall, Dean showed a lot of skill," Green said. "And there was a bit of weight behind his right."

Des Hedland of the Dockers was another to impress Green.

"Des was fighting as if his life was depending on it. He had a real go."

The 14 rounds left Green feeling exhausted but he admitted the hairs on the back of his neck bristled with excitement as he warmed up by punching the pads with his old crew and cornermen in the dressing room.

He simply smiled when asked if the hit-out had inspired him to take the $5 million on offer to fight Anthony Mundine in a rematch.

Meanwhile, Sydney midfielder Jarrad McVeigh capped a season of remarkable improvement by winning his AFL club's best and fairest award on Friday night.

McVeigh, 23, won the Bob Skilton Medal with 578 points, 10 more than fellow midfielder and two-time winner Brett Kirk, who was leading the voting heading into the semi-final loss to the Bulldogs. Co-captain Kirk finished in the top two for the sixth straight year.

Kirk won the players' player award, named after former Sydney skipper Paul Kelly.

Centre half-forward Barry Hall, whose campaign was interrupted by two suspensions, won the award of best Sydney player in the finals, judged by coach Paul Roos.

The club's rising star award was shared by midfielders Craig Bird and Kieren Jack, while another of Sydney's youngsters, goal sneak Jarred Moore, was named most improved player.

Irish halfback Tadhg Kennelly was awarded the trophy for best clubman.