Ben Ronke won a two-way battle with Zach Guthrie to take out the Calder Cannons Robert Hyde Medal on Friday night.
Ronke and Guthrie were the runaway leaders for the Cannons best and fairest award, with the result only determined in the final round of counting.
Guthrie had led for much of the count before Ronke hit the lead in the second last round, leading by three votes heading into the last game of the year, the side’s elimination final loss.
Ronke polled 15 votes in the loss, compared to Guthrie’s four. Ronke finished on 131 and Guthrie on 117.
For both players, it was their first year in the TAC Cup system and both had an impact.
Ronke, who played in a Victorian Amateur Football League premiership with Strathmore last season, also played two games with Coburg in the VFL.
Guthrie, a Sunbury Lions junior, is the latest member of his family to have an impact at TAC Cup level. His brother, Cameron, now with Geelong, won the club’s best and fairest award in 2010.
Guthrie was also awarded the most improved player award, while Ronke won the best on track award.
Both players tested at the recent state combine.
First-year player Brad Bernacki was third placed on 62 votes, with Hayden Blythe (50) and Karl Brown (39) rounding out the top five.
Brown won the leading goal-kicker award.
In other awards, James Peters won the Corporal Cameron Baird VC MG Award as the Cannons’ most courageous player, Tyson Lever won the team targets award, Ryan Baker was awarded the coaches award and Campbell Moorfield received the academic achievement award.
In other news from the best and fairest night, the club announced Andrew Johnston would remain as coach. Johnston has coached the side the past two seasons. In both years, the Cannons have been knocked out in the opening round of the finals.
