Alex Federico stormed home to claim the Northern Knights’ Brent Harvey best and fairest award on Saturday night.
Federico played just 10 games for the Knights this year, as he also juggled school football and played two VFL games, but it was enough for him to take out the award.
He finished ahead of Nick Coffield and Max Dreher.
Due to the lack of games he played with the Knights, Federico didn’t think he was a chance of winning the award.
“It’s really good and I’m honoured to take out the award,” he said.
“I wasn’t expecting it because of school football. I wasn’t even in the top eight towards the end of the count.
“My last six games were really strong to come home at the end. It’s such an honour to win this award.”
Having been part of the Knights last season, Federico took on a new role this year moving into the middle.
It’s a role he thrived in and is now focused on building his game around.
“Ever since junior football I had been an half back flanker or an outside midfielder,” he said.
“The fitness coordinator put together a really good program which worked on strength and power.
“I have enjoyed playing the new role.”
Just missing out on Vic Metro selection, after being named as an emergency, Federico used it as motivation to take his game to the next level .
He said both school football with Marcellin College and playing with the Northern Blues in the VFL competition had given him confidence.
“Being around the Vic Metro team was good and I got the opportunity to train with the best players.
“The motivation was there to go back to school and TAC Cup football and show what I could do.
“Playing VFL football didn’t come up until to half way through the year.
“There was a massive difference and the pace went up another level. Playing with the Northern Blues got me used to playing on bigger bodies.”
The 18-year-olds form saw him selected to participate in the state combine last month. While he didn’t test as well as he would have liked he knows that there’s a lot of upside to his football.
“A lot of people say I’m not as quick as I should be,” he said.
“I’ve worked hard on trying to get my speed up there. I say I’m quick in the mind.”
Federico said between now and the draft he would focus on school and wait and see what happens.
“I will go wherever.”
