There is no doubt Darren Glass in one of the greatest Eagles to ever play the game, and it’s no surprise he finds himself on the podium in our countdown of Club Champions.

Taken at pick 11 in the 1999 National Draft, Glass wasn’t an instant star like Chris Judd, but slowly toiled away eventually assuming the mantle as the ‘number one’ key defender for the Eagles. He has grown into one of the best defenders the game has ever seen over a 14 year career, consistently matching up on and beating the best forwards in the business.

Here’s Darren Glass’ West Coast Eagles Club Champion honour roll:

2007: Club Champion

By now Glass was one of, if not the best, key defender in the AFL. Always given the opposition’s best forward, Glass would routinely beat his opponents in the air and on the ground, and was incredibly hard to score against. Glass played 24 games in 2007, including the club’s extra time semi-final loss to Collingwood, and eventually won the Club Champion Award on 405 votes with swingman Adam Hunter second on 369 votes. It was a great result for Glass, when you consider the stars the side had in the line at the time including Judd, Kerr, Priddis, Cox and Embley, and underlined how highly Glass was rated at the Eagles.

2009: Club Champion

Now a two-time All-Australian, Glass continued his rich vein of form in 2009. Again leading a young backline, Glass was simply superb in becoming just the fifth man to win the award on multiple occasions. He continued to grow not only as a player but also as a leader, and was consistently dominant in defence. He won the award with 340 votes, ahead of young defender Shannon Hurn who finished on 329.

2011: Club Champion

Glass, along with the Eagles, enjoyed a stellar year in 2011, making it all the way to the preliminary final. Glass continued to toil away in defence, and remained the best back man in the competition who struck fear into the hearts of forwards around the country, earning himself a third All-Australian jumper in the process. He took out the award on count back from Matthew Priddis, who were tied up on 398 votes apiece after counting closed. Glass became just the third Eagle to win the award three times and was one of the key reasons for the Eagles resurgence up the ladder.

To go alongside his three Club Champion Awards, Glass was also runner-up in 2006 behind Chris Judd, and was adjudged ‘Player of the Finals’ in 2007 and 2011. He was awarded ‘Rookie of the Year’ in 2000, and to this point in his career has earned himself four All-Australian jumpers, including being captain in 2012.

Some have even suggested that Glass has been the most effective captain since John Worsfold. Huge wraps for such a humble, honest defender, but that is what Darren Glass is about. Honest, reliable, stable and professional, Darren Glass has all that in spades, and rightfully earns his place in the top three in our Club Champion countdown.

CLICK HERE to go to 2015 John Worsfold Medal HQ.