By Tara Murray
Wallan’s Jesse Davies took home the Riddell District Football Netball League’s top football honour, capping off a good night for Magpies at the awards night on Wednesday night.
Davies, who is in his second year at the Magpies, secured the Bowen Medal with one round remaining in the count.
He finished on 27 votes, three clear of Rupertswood’s Brent Swallow, who missed four games late in the season.
Woodend-Hesket’s Daniel Toman finished third and two-time winner Tom Waters was fourth.
Davies, who had earlier been named the Ontime Delivery Solutions players of the year by the coaches, said he didn’t expect to take out either award.
“A little bit surprised to be honest, but I’m really happy,” he said.
“I got really nervous, as I hate being in front of people and didn’t want to get up in front of everyone
“We had a lot of good players in our side, I thought we would steal votes from each other.”
Davies said it was his teammates who worked out that he had taken out the medal before the final round, which just added to his nerves.
He said he thought his season individually had been really good. He said it was disappointing for the side to end the season the way they had, but the club had come a long way in the last few years.
“I don’t usually kick goals, so to kick 20-odd goals for me is massive. It added a little bit to my game.
“I was able to get on the end of a few more, but I did play forward a bit which I spoke to Nug [coach Daniel Nolan] a bit in the preseason, something different.”
Davies said being in his second season in the league, he had felt a bit more comfortable with the how it was played.
He said the decision to move from the Essendon District Football League to Wallan was one that had paid off.
“I’d been at Craigieburn for a few long time and I knew Nugget and a lot of my closer mates had already moved to Wallan,
“After winning a premiership decided to make the more to Wallan.”
Davies award capped off a strong night for the Magpies.
Davies was named in the team of the year along with Magpies teammates Michael Mannix, Shaun Stewart and Ricky Schraven.
That was equal most of any club, along with Rupertswood.
The Magpies were named club of the year, ahead of Riddell and Woodend-Hesket.
Magpies young gun Nathan Fowler took home the Rising Gun Award.
Chris Cameron in his first year at the club was named netball coach of the year, while Kate Bishop was named runner-up in the B-grade netball award.
Jake Hall and Thomas Knight both finished one vote behind the winners in the Charles Watson Medal for the under-19.5 football best and fairest.
In other awards, Chloe Wilson was the run away winner in the Ryan Medal.
She finished eight votes clear of Rockbank’s Rianne Vining.
Rockbank’s Rebecca Hicks was named the Western Water player of the year.
