By Travis Parnaby
Pocket dynamoes Jarryd Blair and Farran Priest share the same height, almost the same weight and now share a Morrish Medal.
Blair and Priest tied on 18 votes after stellar TAC Cup seasons in 2008.
Blair and North Ballarat's Andrew Hooper lead on 17 votes after 18 rounds of counting. Priest crashed in on their party with a best on ground performance in the final round against the Oakleigh Chargers to launch him into the outright lead.
When Hooper - who had lead for the entire night - saw his run stall on 17 votes after failing to pick up a vote in the last round against Dandenong Stingrays, the wait would be to see if Priest would share the prize or win alone.
Blair's one vote game against Western Jets seized back a slice of the lead and a slice of history - for it is the first time since 1992 the TAC Cup's highest individual honour has been shared.
Blair cheekily said he had no expectation heading into the Morrish Medal count.
“I was wondering what was going to be for tea,” he said.
“It’s unexpected.”
Blair then charmed the crowd with one of the great one liners. Asked by compere Craig Willis to discuss his hometown, Blair quipped knowingly of his beloved Wonthaggi.
“I think it’s got the highest crime rate per capita in Victoria."
Blair, a hard-nosed rover with a strong pair of hands, modelled his game on Hawk star Shane Crawford - who is 174cm - but said nhis work rate left a lot to be desired when he first lobbed at the Gippsland Power.
“I came in as an under-age player and probably didn’t train as hard as I could have and (coach) Adrian Hickmott helped me with my work rate,” Blair said.
He said his present power coach Austinn Jones had a “pretty big” influence on him as a player.
“Both him and Hick combined have shaped the way I play footy I reckon,” Blair said.
“They really encourage you to train hard and Aussie’s sort of a laid back bloke who really encourages you to get the best out of yourself. He’s been good for not only myself but the rest of the footy club.”
Blair said he had a hunger for team success and that he wanted to emulate the 2005 Power premiership side in this year's finals.
But first the Power must overcome the Stingrays and then possibly Priest's Bushragers.
Priest played on a wing for Murray most of the season and has blossomed as a damaging midfielder.
He hails from Benalla and has played against high-level players all his career.
“Growing up it’s a town where footy is pretty strong,” Priest said.
Priest said he enjoyed Phil Bunn's coaching - no doubt the Bushrangers 17-2 record is testament in some part to Bunn's deeds.
“Phil is very good as a coach. He gives everyone opportunities, which is good.”
He said Nathan Buckley and Leon Davis were heroes and hoped one day to make their grade.
“Yeah definitely. That’s what everyone aims for, see how far you can go and get to the top level,” he said.
“See how it goes.”
Last Modified on 27/01/2009 11:26
