Box Hill Hawks Peter McEvoy and Port Melbourne’s Josh Muling have dead-heated for the A. Todd Medal, the best and fairest in the AFL Victoria Development League.
McEvoy also won the goal kicking competition in the Development League by a whopping 23 goals.
There was no such margin for McEvoy in the A. Todd Medal as he was locked with Muling on 13 votes at the end of a thrilling count.
Both McEvoy and Muling polled in six matches, with the Box Hill Hawks forward surging home to tie the A. Todd Medal.
Muling, in his fifth season with Port Melbourne, appeared to have the A. Todd Medal in his keeping when he collected his third ‘three votes’ in Round 17 to shoot to 12 votes.
It gave him a five vote lead over McEvoy and Muling added to his tally with a one vote game in Round 18.
But, that round coincided with McEvoy gaining the maximum votes following his eight goal haul against Frankston.
With Port Melbourne having a bye in the final home and away round, Muling was left to ponder if his 13 votes, three more than McEvoy, would be enough.
It wasn’t.
McEvoy, thanks to a seven goal bag against Northern Blues, collected three votes to move to 13 votes.
McEvoy, younger brother of Hawthorn ruck man Ben, made a stunning impact with Box Hill Hawks.
He played every match and kicked at least one goal in every match except an early season fixture against Sandringham, and made his senior debut with Box Hill on the weekend.
For Muling it was a fitting reward for a loyal club man who has played 68 Development League games for Port Melbourne, along with his 17 senior games.
Muling made three senior appearances this season and played 13 Development League games.
He’s missed very few games since he graduated from the Oakleigh Chargers in 2009.
McEvoy’s success gave Box Hill Hawks its third A. Todd Medal, Ryan Cassidy (2003) and Joel Cross (2009) the other Box Hill winners.
For Port Melbourne it was their first A. Todd Medalist since current Collingwood player Sam Dwyer won in 2007.
Former Box Hill Hawks player Dalton Graham, in his first season at Sandringham, finished equal third with Williamstown’s Josh Bench.
Graham and Bench polled 11 votes, two less than McEvoy and Muling.
CLICK BELOW FOR THE FULL LIST OF VOTES
Last Modified on 01/09/2014 21:35