By Tara Murray
Sam Ramsay and Ned Gentile made history last week when the pair became the first two players to tie for the Calder Cannons’ Robert Hyde Medal.
Two of the favourites going into the count, it would come down to the final round.
Ramsay, who finished the season in hot form, was able to draw level with Gentile on 99 votes.
For both players, the win caps off their time at the Cannons.
Gentile said while some people had mentioned he was a chance to take out the medal, he wasn’t so sure.
“I knew I was a little bit of a chance,” he said.
“I thought I had a consistent year, but didn’t star. I didn’t have many best-on-grounds, but I kept putting in good performances.
“I knew he [Ramsay] had such a good end to the year and finished strongly.
“I’m excited to share it with Rama and be involved in a little bit of history.”
Gentile, who comes from Airport West, was also awarded the club’s most courageous player.
Among the highlights this year for him was captaining the side while Brodie Newman was on metro duties.
Ramsay said it was a shock for him when his name was called out as one of the winners of the Hyde Medal.
“I didn’t start the year well,” Ramsay said.
“I got a concussion early in the year and I missed a week. I then hurt my shoulder and missed a week and had a couple of poor games.
“I had a really good back end to the year and I thought I might come back and finish second or third.
“I’m just stoked, I didn’t see it coming.”
For Ramsay, the catalyst to his late season form was a change of position.
He averaged 31.4 possessions a game in the last eight matches.
“I started to get into the midfield on the inside, instead of on the wing.
“At the time, the metro boys were away and the assistant coach threw me in there and I haven’t looked back.
“I was going back to the way I was used to playing.”
Gentile and Ramsay were keys for the Cannons throughout the year, when other players were away on metro duties.
Missing out on selection for the national championships gave them motivation.
Gentile, who was captain at St Bernards, also missed out on selection for the national and state combines.
“My bottom age wasn’t as good as others who were selected,” Gentile said.
“I was a little bit disappointed, but it’s fire in the belly.
“I have to work harder and hopefully I’ll still get there. I’m 18 years-old, it just makes you want to work harder.”
Ramsay’s strong back half of the season got him an invite to last week’s state combine.
“It’s good to know that I’m still being noticed,” Ramsay said.
“I’m pretty excited and it’s been one big blur since the season finished.”
Ramsay, who was one of six Gisborne players in the Cannons squad this year, said it was exciting what the next weeks could bring.
He said he had been speaking to one of his best mates, Zac Butters, who got drafted to Port Adelaide to get an idea of what to expect.
“I just want to play footy, I’m happy to play footy anywhere.”
