Darley’s Brett Bewley has taken out the 2023 Henderson Medal.
This is Bewley’s second consecutive Ballarat Football League best and fairest award since returning to his junior club last year.
Bewley played 25 AFL games for Fremantle from 2019 to 2021, and has now made his mark on the BFL.
It was a good night for the Devils with Luther Baker also being runners up for the award.
With the award announced on the Monday before the Devils play off in a grand final against North Ballarat, Bewley has other things on his mind.
“It’s a pretty proud achievement, my mind’s focused on other things with the grand final this weekend,” he said.
“Proud, is probably the main feeling.”
Bewley had an incredible season with an average disposal count of 37 while also kicking 33 goals and was named in the best players 14 out of the 17 games he played.
One of the 28-year-old’s best games came in round five against the Sunbury Lions when he racked up 48 touches, six goals, 13 clearances and eight inside 50s.
“Everyone strives to be a well rounded player,” he said.
“Dan (Jordan) gives me a lot of freedom in what I do and he allows me to play to my strengths.
“I just focus on playing the ball and take each contest as it comes, I don’t really focus too much on one specific area, I just try to get involved as much as I can.”
Bewley has been captain at the Devils the last two years and he said he has settled into the role now.
“The first year was a bit more of a learning curve,” he said.
“The way I look at it is that the best form of leadership is leading by example, so that’s the way that I try to approach it.”
After earning a ticket straight into the grand final with a semi final win against North Ballarat has served Bewley and his team well.
“We’re fresh, all the boys are rejuvenated after a long stretch of games,” he said, speaking before the grand final.
“The boys are ready to go and it’s exciting times for the club.”
After beating the Roosters just two weeks ago Bewley took confidence out of the commanding victory.
“I take more confidence from the way we executed our system, but grand finals are a different beast and you can’t go in sort of expecting anything,” he said.
“We’ve got to focus on what we can control and that’s bringing our best self and best footy for 120 minutes and hopefully the scoreboard can take care of itself.”
Bewley was also named captain of the team of the year. Shane Page, Billy Myers and Baker were also named in the team of the year.
Bacchus Marsh’s Jake Owen and Luke Goetz, Melton’s Lachlan Watkins, Jordyn Cotter, Ryan Carter and Jack Walker were also named in the team of the year.
In the A-grade netball, Darley’s Shannon Blackman and Matilda Elliot both finished joint runners up in the Sally McLean Medal behind the Sunbury Lions, Simona DiFillipo.
Blackman, Rebecca Hicks and Grace Markovic were all named in the team of the year.
