FRANKSTON spearhead Michael Lourey is in the driver’s seat to win the JJ ‘Frosty’ Miller Medal to complete a remarkable comeback.
Lourey is locked in a three-way battle with defending Miller Medalist Dean Galea and Werribee’s Ben Warren heading into the final home and away round.
The ‘Frosty’ Miller Medal, named in honor of the legendary Dandenong full forward who topped the goal kicking six times in the late 1960s and early 1970s, is awarded to the player who kicks the most goals in the home and away season.
Lourey holds a two goal break over Warren with Galea a further five goals away.
The trio has broken away from the pack headed by Collingwood’s Jackson Paine who has kicked 41 goals.
The Dolphins full forward entered the second last round of the season locked with Warren, but the former North Melbourne player did not kick a goal in Werribee’s emphatic win over Northern Blues.
Galea, who topped the goal kicking last season, did not play for Port Melbourne in its narrow loss to Geelong.
Port Melbourne coach Gary Ayres rates Galea as only a “50/50” chance to play against Coburg.
While Lourey has not missed a game since returning this season to Frankston, Warren has missed one game and Galea has missed two.
Whoever wins the ‘Frosty’ Miller Medal will do so with the lowest total in the past 50 years.
Port Melbourne’s Danny Sexton topped the goal kicking in 1995 with 64 goals.
Sandringham’s Bill Bryan won the 1963 goal kicking with just 44 goals.
Rewind 12 months ago and Lourey was playing for Mt Eliza in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League.
Lourey left Sandringham mid-season after struggling to gain selection in the Zebras senior team.
During the 2011 season Lourey, who played every game, kicked 36 goals for Sandringham to finish with a top 10 placing on the goal kicking ladder.
But, Lourey could only muster one match – and that was early in the season – before he missed a bunch of games before returning to play eight games in Sandringham’s Development League team.
Lourey decided to play out the season with Mt Eliza where his teammates included current Frankston players Scott Simpson and Sam Lloyd.
Frankston coach Simon Goosey coaxed Lourey back to Frankston where he started his VFL career.
Lourey created an immediate impact not only with Frankston, but also within the competition and he was selected to represent Victoria against Western Australia in the State match back in May.
If Lourey holds on to his lead, he will become the third Frankston player this century to win a ‘Frosty’ Miller medal.
Goal kicking goliath Nick Sautner won two titles during his time with Frankston while Aaron Edwards kicked 100 goals during his one season with Frankston.
Last Modified on 23/08/2013 17:27