Melton’s Jack Watkins has been recognised at the higher level, claiming North Melbourne’s Victorian Football League best and fairest award.
Watkins, who captains the Kangaroos reserves side, claimed the John Law Medal, averaging 23.1 disposals and 4.1 tackles per match across his 18 games in midfield for the Roos.
In a season that saw the Roos claim an inaugural wildcard round berth after winning 10 games, the onballer polled a leaderboard-topping 77 votes, improving on his 2022 tally of 58.
Watkins, who played his junior football with Melton South, returned to the Ballarat Football League this season after spending time in the Essendon District Football League.
He played two games for the Bloods, where his brother Lachlan also plays, in between VFL commitments.
Young key forward Tyler Sellers came in second place in the Kangaroos best and fairest with 56 votes.
Despite a relatively slow start to the year, Sellers truly emerged as a main inside 50 target in the second half of the campaign and ended up booting 30 goals from 16 games, including three against Casey in Wildcard Round.
One vote behind on 55 in third spot was Ben Davis, who stood out as a rebounding defender. The former Adelaide Crow offered some valuable experience behind the ball and averaged 20.6 disposals and 6.9 marks per game.
Prolific forward Sam Lowson, who averaged two goals per outing, came in fourth.
Lowson kicked off the season in tremendous fashion with nine goals in the opening two weeks and soon formed a damaging one-two punch partnership with Sellers.
Charlie Lazzaro was the highest polling AFL-listed player with 49 votes in fifth place.
The young midfielder collected 26.5 possessions per game and landed a spot in the VFL’s 40-player Team of the Year squad.
