ZAC Keogh has claimed a stunning victory in the 2017 Reynolds Medal Vote Count held at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Thursday evening.
The first-year Maribyrnong Park star claimed the Reynolds Medal as the fairest and best player in Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division after scoring seven best-on-ground nods from his 17 games for the Lions this season.
Keogh went into the final round of voting three votes ahead of Strathmore’s Jaryd Cachia, who claimed three votes in his game against West Coburg to draw level with Keogh.
However, the 22-year-old former Wagga Tiger managed to snare one more vote against Aberfeldie in the final round to claim the Reynolds Medal outright and become the first Lion to win it since Heath Ayres went back-to-back in 2008 and 2009.
Hot favourite Addam Maric was thereabouts, finishing third with 19 votes.
Airport West youngster Tyson Young claimed Essendon Ford Division 1’s Hutchison Medal after polling in nine of his 16 home-and-away games this season.
Young had an outstanding season playing numerous roles for the Eagles, eventually kicking 44 goals to help his side into the finals.
The 20-year-old former Calder Cannon polled seven votes in the final three rounds to finish four votes ahead of Westmeadows’ Justin Taylor.
Taylor stormed home, polling a total of nine votes in each of his last four games to claim the runner-up prize.
Meanwhile Coburg Districts forward Luke Vesnaver has taken out the B&F medal in Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 after snagging 55 goals for the Lions this season.
The 24-year-old has had shoulder problems that have kept him on the sidelines in recent years, but the former Panther finally managed to string a full season together, never missing a game in the home-and-away season.
Vesnaver bagged two nine-goal hauls and an eight-goal haul for the Lions during the year and on six occasions earned best-on honours from the umpires – including an impressive stretch of three best-ons in four weeks from Rounds 9 to 12.
Jacana skipper Mick Evans, another star player with shoulder issues of his own, finished runner-up on 20 votes, four behind Vesnaver.
Earlier in the night Keilor’s Sarah Wright became the first B&F winner of the inaugural Senior Women’s Competition.
Wright polled a whopping 29 votes, finishing three ahead of Sunbury’s Simon Craige.
Sarah’s twin sister Gemma, an up-and-coming star in her own right, finished third with 21 votes.
STRATHMORE COMMUNITY BANK PREMIER DIVISION AWARDS
Reynolds Medal – FINAL TALLY
Winner: Zac Keogh (Maribyrnong Park) – 22 Votes
Runner-Up: Jaryd Cachia (Strathmore) – 21 Votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Dean Galea (Keilor) – 81 Goals
Team of the Year – CLICK HERE
ESSENDON FORD DIVISION 1 AWARDS
Hutchison Medal – FINAL TALLY
Winner: Tyson Young (Airport West) – 22 Votes
Runner-Up: Justin Taylor (Westmeadows) – 18 Votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Adam Winter (Glenroy) – 52 Goals
Team of the Year – CLICK HERE
STRATHMORE COMMUNITY BANK DIVISION 2 AWARDS
B&F Medal – FINAL TALLY
Winner: Luke Vesnaver (Coburg Districts) – 24 Votes
Runner-Up: Michael Evans (Jacana) – 20 Votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Cameron Cloke (Jacana) – 112 Goals
Team of the Year – CLICK HERE
WRFL & EDFL SENIOR WOMEN’S AWARDS
B&F Medal – FINAL TALLY
Winner: Sarah Wright (Keilor) – 29 Votes
Runner-Up: Simone Craig (Sunbury) – 26 Votes
Leading Goal Kicker: Brooke Todero (Keilor) – 60 Goals
PREMIER DIVISION RESERVES AWARDS
J. Coleman Medal – FINAL TALLY
Winner: Matthew Koronoes (Greenvale) – 22 Votes
Runners-Up: Josh Fedele (Avondale Heights) & Ben Maud (Keilor) – 13 Votes
DIVISION 1 RESERVES AWARDS
Tim Watson Medal – FINAL TALLY
Winners: David Jackson (Taylors Lakes) & Troy Schimmelbusch (Oak Park) – 14 Votes
Runner-Up: Christian Monaco (Taylors Lakes) – 12 Votes
DIVISION 2 RESERVES AWARDS
B&F Medal – FINAL TALLY
Winner: Chadie Helou (Roxburgh Park) – 19 Votes
Runner-Up: James Saragias (Moonee Valley) – 13 Votes
AGA APPRENTICESHIPS PLUS UNDER 19.5 PREMIER DIVISION AWARDS
Mark Thompson Medal – FINAL TALLY
Winner: George Abboud (Maribyrnong Park) – 29 Votes
Runner-Up: Alex Kocovic (Keilor) – 20 Votes
AGA APPRENTICESHIPS PLUS UNDER 19.5 DIVISION 1 AWARDS
Ken Fraser Medal – FINAL TALLY
Winner: Ben Fisher (Moonee Valley) – 18 Votes
Runner-Up: James McNaughton (Hillside) – 16 Votes
SENIOR THIRDS AWARDS
B&F Medal – FINAL TALLY
Winner: Jay Burke (Essendon Doutta Stars) – 22 Votes
Runner-Up: Jordan Harrison (Maribyrnong Park) – 18 Votes
OTHER AWARDS
Jack Harris Administrator of the Year: Julie Chitsos (Taylors Lakes)
AGA Apprenticeships Plus Rising Star: Wilson Berry (Aberfeldie)
Umpire of the Year: James Downing
NORTH WEST AFCA COACH OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Junior Category: Paul Garoni (Airport West)
Youth Category: Mick Egan (Taylors Lakes)
Senior Category: Robbie Castello (Maribyrnong Park)
Female Category: Anya Harrison (Overnewton Auskick)
