GIPPSLAND Power midfielder Dyson Heppell and Sandringham Dragons centreman Jackson Sketcher are joint winners of the 2010 Morrish Medal.
Heppell and Sketcher, respective captains of their clubs, were locked on 21 votes in the TAC Cup’s highest individual honour.
Geelong Falcons’ rover Luke Dahlhaus finished third, three votes behind Heppell and Sketcher.
It is just the second time in the 19-year history of the TAC Cup that the Morrish Medal has been shared.
Current Collingwood player Jarryd Blair, who played for Gippsland Power, and Murray Bushrangers Farran Priest tied for Morrish Medal honours in 2008.
For the first time, the traditional three-two and one vote was replaced by a system where the field umpires each awarded two single votes per quarter.
The maximum number of votes a player could get per quarter is one with a maximum of four per game.
It was a thrilling finish to the Morrish count with Heppell collecting the maximum number of votes in the final home and away round to reel in Sketcher, who collected one vote in the final round.
Sketcher, who polled votes in eight of the first nine Rounds, opened up a commanding lead to have 15 votes midway through the season to lead Heppell by eight votes and Dahlhaus by five.
Heppell produced a barnstorming finish to gain votes in the final five rounds, including two matches where he received the maximum four votes.
Both Morrish Medal winners enjoyed spectacularly consistent seasons. Sketcher, 18, polled votes in 12 of the 14 games he played while Heppell, 18, remarkably gained at least one in each of the 11 games he played.
And, Dahlhaus, 18, received votes in nine of the 10 games he played.
Heppell has enjoyed a memorable year. He played in the triumphant Vic Country team in the NAB AFL Under 18 National Championships, where he was awarded the team’s Most Valuable Player award and also gained All Australian honours.
Sketcher’s consistently good season is reflected in the even spread of votes he received. He polled five votes in the first, second and fourth quarters and six in the third.
Murray Bushrangers forward Josh Mellington finished fourth with 16 votes while Dandenong Stingrays Luke Parker, who played just eight games, was fifth with 14 votes.
Sketcher is the first Sandringham Dragon to win the Morrish while Heppell joins Blair and Matthew Stolarczyk (1999) as Gippsland Power winners.
TAC Chief Executive Officer Janet Dore congratulated TAC Cup players Dyson Heppell and Jackson Sketcher on winning the prestigious award and said TAC Cup teams played an important role in reducing road trauma among young drivers.
"The TAC Cup is also about building life skills, such as individual responsibility, looking out for your mates and being a role model in your communities," Ms Dore said.
MORRISH MEDAL LEADER BOARD
DYSON HEPPELL (Gippsland Power) 21
JACKSON SKETCHER (Sandringham Dragons) 21
LUKE DAHLHAUS (Geelong Falcons) 18
JOSH MELLINGTON (Murray Bushrangers) 16
LUKE PARKER (Dandenong Stingrays) 14
ALEX BENBOW (Dandenong Stingrays) 12
MICHAEL SODOMACO (Geelong Falcons) 12
JACK FROST (Sandringham Dragons) 12
JED LAMB (Gippsland Power) 11
JOSH CADDY (Northern Knights) 11
DION PRESTIA (Calder Cannons) 10
Click on the document below for the Round by Round and Club by Club Votes.
Last Modified on 14/12/2010 13:54
