Rupertswood’s Brent Swallow was left speechless after being named the 2016 Riddell District Football League’s Bowen medallist.
The midfielder, who has been a model of consistency in recent seasons, stepped it up another level this year to take out the top honour at the league’s night of nights.
Swallow said he didn’t think he was a chance of winning the award, even when he was at the top of the leader board after round 14.
At that stage he was on 19 votes, one clear of Diggers Rest’s Taylor Hine.
Swallow held on to win, on 20 votes, with Hine still a vote back.
Swallow said that while he felt the Sharks, who were eliminated in the first week of the finals, had played “all right” he was unconvinced he was a good hope of winning the medal.
“You don’t know what the umpires are doing,” he said. “It was a complete surprise and I’m rapt.”
Macedon’s Jason Cooke finished a further vote back, with Cats Shaun Harrison and Lancefield’s Myles Dorman rounding out the top five.
Swallow also took home the Buffalo Sports award, which is awarded to the best player voted by the goal umpires.
Hine won the Melton Toyota Football Player of Year award for the best player as voted by the coaches.
The two medals are a change of luck for Swallow, who has played all his career with the Sharks. He is the first Shark to win the Bowen Medal, after the club moved to the competition in 2013.
“I think for the club best and fairest, I’ve come second the last five years in a row, so it’s good to finally get one,” Swallow said.
“Hopefully we’ll see a few more Bowen medallists from the club in years to come.”
Swallow was named in the centre position in team of the year. His Sharks teammate, Brett Chambers, was named at centre half-back.
Macedon had the most representatives in the squad, with Cooke, Harrison, Casey Summerfield, Matthew Knox and Tom Waters selected.
Broadford had four representatives in the team, while Riddell’s Tim Walsh, Brian Ruffell and Ben Said, and Romsey’s Chris and Matt Burkett and Ayden Tessari were also named.
Walsh was named Steve Turner medallist for best young player.
Lancefield’s Jon Kent, who won the best player in the interleague match, and teammate Myles Dorman were both named in the forward line of the team of the year.
Grand finalist Diggers Rest had three players named in the team – Hine, Cale Morton and Brandon Kilty – while coach Shaun Sims was named coach of the year.
