taccup.com.au takes a look at who the best-and-fairest winners from each TAC Cup club are and how their 2016 seasons played out.
BENDIGO PIONEERS: Keelin Betson
187cm bottom-ager Betson claimed the Neville Strauch Memorial best and fairest ahead of fellow bottom-agers Darby Henderson and Laine Fitzgerald in equal-second. The Mooroopna product played all 18 matches as a key defender in 2016, averaging seven disposals per game.
Other award winners:
- Coaches Award: Isaac Miller
- Most Consistent Award: Joe Atley
CALDER CANNONS: Ben Ronke
181cm over-age mid-forward Ronke won the Robert Hyde Medal from reliable defender Zach Guthrie in second and bottom-age midfielder Brad Bernacki in third. Having returned to the Cannons after playing in a VAFA premiership for St Bernard’s last year, he kicked 19 goals and averaged 20 disposals and four tackles per game in 15 TAC Cup matches, also receiving an invite to the Victorian State Combine.
Other award winners:
- Coaches Award: Ryan Baker
- Most Improved Award: Zach Guthrie
- Most Courageous Award: James Peters
- Team Targets Award: Tyson Lever
- Best on Track Award: Ben Ronke
DANDENONG STINGRAYS: Tom Glen and Myles Poholke
187cm over-age midfielder Glen shared Dandenong’s best-and-fairest award with 184cm Vic Country midfielder Poholke, while Nathan Scagliarini finished runner-up behind the pair. Beaconsfield product Glen returned to the Stingrays after missing out on being drafted and was prolific in 2016, averaging 22 disposals and four marks per game in 17 TAC Cup matches, also representing the Casey Scorpions and Frankston twice each at senior VFL level. Poholke, a Sorrento product and member of the NAB AFL Academy, starred at TAC Cup level by kicking 12 goals and averaging 21 disposals and four tackles per game across 13 matches.
Other award winners:
- Coaches Award: Matthew La Fontaine
- Best First-Year Player: Hunter Clark
- Most Improved Award: Bailey Morrish
- Most Determined Award: Josh Battle
EASTERN RANGES: Dylan Clarke
Prolific 187cm Ranges captain Clarke took home the Pennington Medal from rapidly emerging mid-forward Josh Begley in second and bottom-ager Thomas North in third. The Rowville and Knox junior – and brother of North Melbourne’s Ryan Clarke – kicked seven goals and averaged 29 disposals and eight tackles per game in just eight TAC Cup matches to earn selection in the TAC Cup Team of the Year midfield and an invite to the NAB AFL Draft Combine. He was also named in the U18 All Australian team and jointly won Vic Metro’s MVP Award after representing Metro in four games at the NAB AFL U18 Championships.
Other award winners:
- Coaches Award: Kane Keppel
- Most Improved Award: Thomas North
GEELONG FALCONS: Jack Blood
181cm Falcons captain Blood took out Geelong’s best-and-fairest award in front of tough over-age midfielder Max Augerinos in second and fellow over-ager Joel Bennett in third. The St Mary’s junior averaged 18 disposals and four tackles per game in 16 TAC Cup matches as a smaller defender.
Other award winners:
- Coaches Award: Zachary Zdybel
- Most Improved Award: Trent Thompson
- Most Consistent Award: Mitch Diamond
- Most Dedicated Award: Lockey McCartney
- Best in Finals Award: Jack Blood
- Talent Manager’s Award: Jackson McLachlan and Ben McNamara
- Football Manager’s Award: Pat Dowling
GIPPSLAND POWER: Josh Patullo
198cm over-age ruckman/key-position player Patullo (pictured, left) secured Gippsland’s best-and-fairest award ahead of athletic midfielder/defender Will Leslie in second. The Warragul junior kicked 11 goals and averaged 15 disposals, five marks and 13 hitouts per game in 16 TAC Cup matches to earn selection in the TAC Cup Team of the Year back line. He also played two games for the Casey Scorpions at senior VFL level.
Other award winners:
- Coaches Award: Sean Masterson
- Best First-Year Player Award: Will Stephenson
- Most Improved Award: Corey Timms
- Most Disciplined Player Award: Callum Porter
- Most Professional Player Award: Ben Ainsworth
MURRAY BUSHRANGERS: James Cousins
185cm inside midfielder Cousins (pictured, centre) claimed the John Byrne Medal ahead of mobile key defender Ryan Garthwaite and over-age goalkicker Lachlan Tiziani, who both tied for second. The Mansfield junior kicked 13 goals and averaged 22 disposals, four marks and four tackles per game in 18 TAC Cup matches – including 20 disposals, eight inside-50s and six clearances in Murray’s Grand Final loss to the Sandringham Dragons – to earn selection on the TAC Cup Team of the Year interchange. He also played one game for Richmond at VFL level and received an invite to the Victorian State Combine.
Other award winners:
- Coaches Award: Harry Boyd
- Most Improved Award: Esava Ratugolea
- Trainers Award: Jordan Butts
- Best in Finals Award: Nicholas Richards
NORTH BALLARAT REBELS: Hugh McCluggage
185cm goalkicking midfielder McCluggage took home the Adam Goodes Trophy after pipping second-placed Willem Drew and third-placed Callan Wellings. The South Warrnambool product enjoyed a decorated 2016 season, claiming the Morrish Medal and being named in the TAC Cup Team of the Year after averaging 29 disposals, four marks and five tackles per game and kicking 25 goals in 12 matches for the Rebels. McCluggage also won Vic Country’s MVP and Coaches Award as well as U18 All Australian selection following his stellar performances at the NAB AFL U18 Championships.
Other award winners:
- Coaches Award: Clay Bilney and Lachlan Huppatz
- Players Award: Jarrod Berry
- Best First-Year Player: Naish McRoberts
- Personal Growth Award: Jarrod Korewha
NORTHERN KNIGHTS: Lachlan Murphy
173cm hard-nut midfielder Murphy (pictured, right) won the Brent Harvey Best and Fairest from prolific on-baller Luke Bunker in second and Knights captain and rebounding defender Mason Blakey in third. The Diamond Creek product averaged 27 disposals and five tackles per game in 10 TAC Cup matches and also received an invite to the Victorian State Combine.
Other award winners:
- Coaches Award: Patrick Lipinski
- Rising Star Award: Nicholas Coffield
- Most Improved Award: Chas Roberts
- Best Defensive Player Award: Ethan Penrith
- Core Values Award: Jamison Shea
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS: Lachlan Walker
Classy 188cm over-age midfielder Walker took home the James Honey Medal, with the De La Salle product kicking 12 goals and averaging 25 disposals, four marks and four tackles per game in 18 TAC Cup matches. He also received an invite to the Victorian State Combine.
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS: Corey Lyons
182cm goalkicking midfielder Lyons secured Sandringham’s best-and-fairest award from fellow on-baller Josh Trew in second and defensive pair Reuben Hayward and Darcy James in equal-third. The St Peters junior – and brother of Adelaide’s Jarryd Lyons – kicked 13 goals and averaged 24 disposals and five marks per game in 15 TAC Cup matches – including 24 disposals, four clearances and a goal in the Dragons’ Grand Final triumph over the Murray Bushrangers. He also represented Vic Metro in three games at the NAB AFL U18 Championships and received an invite to the Victorian State Combine.
Other award winners:
- Coaches Award: Thomas Maloney and Liam Murphy
- Best First-Year Player Award: Hayden McLean
- Most Improved Award: Reuben Hayward
- Fiercest Dragon Award: Darcy James
- Honest Efforts Award: Ash Krakauer and Tim Taranto
- Players of the Finals: Andrew McGrath and Tim Taranto
WESTERN JETS: Brodie Romensky
189cm midfielder/defender Romensky claimed the Barry Round Medal from Jets co-captain Oscar Junker in second and over-ager Daniel Foley in third. The Maribyrnong Park junior averaged 24 disposals and seven tackles per game in 15 TAC Cup matches to earn selection in the TAC Cup Team of the Year back line and an invite to the Victorian State Combine. He also represented Vic Metro in three games at the NAB AFL U18 Championships and Williamstown twice at senior VFL level.
Other award winners:
- Best First-Year Player Award: Nicholas Stuhldreier
- Most Consistent Award: Connor Griffiths
- Most Courageous Award: Jordyn Cotter
- Trainers Award: Nicholas Buykx
Last Modified on 12/01/2017 16:47
