Tara Murray
Bundoora United gun Joel Thompson has won best and fairest medals before, but winning this season’s John Gleeson Medal is the most special one.
Thompson was awarded the Diamond Valley Cricket Association’s Money Shield best and fairest medal at the annual awards ceremony earlier this month.
He finished the season with 709 runs at an average of 59 to finish with 17 votes to claim his second John Gleeson Medal.
Thompson said it was pretty special to win the medal again.
“It was a good reward for all the hard work,” he said. “Without the other guys making my job easier, I couldn’t have the ability to do what I do.
“Scott [Barnett] finished in second as well, it’s not just one guy doing one thing.
“The others are stepping up which was nice to see.”
The first 11 rounds of voting were released in the lead up to the night, with Thompson sitting equal top on 15 votes with Montmorency’s Andrew Bennett.
Thompson said his phone started going off at that point saying that he had a good chance to take it out.
Thompson hurt his ankle in round 11 and then missed a game. He played the next two and put himself down the order to take the load off as he recovered.
He made 60 odd in the final round to poll two votes to claim the medal.
The medal caps off a brilliant season for Thompson and the Bulldogs, who won the Money Shield title.
Thompson, who captained the Bulldogs, said that was the most special thing about this season. He said the medal was about everyone, not just him.
“Winning a flag with my best mates means so much more,” he said.
“I look back at all the hard work I’ve put in during my career, it makes it worthwhile.
“I won one in the NMCA [competition medal] and in the top three a few times, but hadn’t been successful with the team.
“It means so much more for me to win it in a premiership year.”
Thompson was also named captain of the Money Shield team of the year. Barnett was also named in that team.
In the Barclay Shield, Macleod’s Tim Wise won his second Ray Christesen Medal, finishing 12 votes clear.
Epping’s Tom Emmins was named in the Barclay Shield team of the year.
South Morang’s Karl Heckmann won the Duckworth-Turner Medal in the Mash Shield.
