Casey Scorpions ruckman Oscar McInerney won the 2016 A. Todd Medal for the best and fairest player in the AFL Victoria Development League on Monday night.
The 203cm 21-year-old polled 16 votes in 12 games to finish one vote clear of Box Hill Hawks goalkicker William Murphy and two ahead of Sandringham’s Kenny Ong, in just his first VFL season after previously playing with Montrose in the Eastern Football League.
McInerney polled votes in seven games, the last of which came in Round 16 when a two-vote performance saw him overtake Murphy into the lead. He was never headed from that point, despite not polling in the final five rounds – due in part to receiving a call-up to the senior Scorpions team for VFL Rounds 18 and 21.
McInerney was adjudged best-on-ground for his performances in a 12-point loss to Box Hill in Round 7, a 46-point win against Werribee in Round 11 and a 70-point victory over the Tigers in Round 15.
In an endorsement of his development this year, McInerney won a place in Casey’s team for its senior Qualifying Final triumph over Footscray two weeks ago, when he recorded 12 disposals, 14 hitouts and a goal as back-up to no.1 ruckman Jake Spencer.
173cm Murphy kicked 14 goals in his second season on Box Hill’s list, polling votes in seven of his 12 games. The 20-year-old also graduated to play three matches at senior level, improving upon his 13 appearances in the Development League in 2015.
Ong, 22, struggled for senior opportunities at Sandringham this year, playing only three games for the VFL Zebras after making 47 appearances from 2013-15. The 179cm livewire polled 14 votes in just 10 Development League games, including four best-on-ground performances – the most of any player.
A. TODD MEDAL LEADERBOARD
Oscar McInerney (Casey Scorpions) 16
William Murphy (Box Hill Hawks) 15
Kenny Ong (Sandringham) 14
Charles Kelso (Sandringham) 10
Jake Owen (Williamstown) 10
Lachlan Schultz (Williamstown) 10
Adam Valeri (Coburg) 9
Alex Urban (Port Melbourne) 9
Sam Switkowski (Box Hill Hawks) 9
Last Modified on 13/09/2016 20:46