Last Saturday Barry Priest watched as Spotswood emulated what his Braybrook side did in the Seventies, three premierships in a row. That is part of the reason why Barry is a WRFL legend, but only part. Talk to Doug Hawkins about his boyhood idols and he will name Barry in the same breath as Keith Greig, a dual Brownlow Medallist, and Barry deserves that, he was a great player and he is a great bloke.
Friday night Barry will be on stage at Sheldon Receptions in Sunshine placing the medal named in his honour around the neck of a very deserving player, but who will it be?
Port Melbourne Colts and Spotswood have had outstanding seasons but will the winner come from these two great clubs or will it be a smoky that emerges to grab the medal.
Lining up the usual suspects throws forward names like Brad Julier , Chris O’Keefe, and Danny Jacobs who all polled well last year and have all been prominent again this year.
Dave McGregor and Jase Perkins have certainly caught the eye in the Colts forward line this year and Luke Sinnott and young Ryan Noye have been in good enough form to be in the team of the year so they may figure as well.
If the winner is to come from a team outside the finals then Tim Jenkins from St. Albans or Aaron Freeland of Altona might loom as likely prospects.
Goal kickers and midfielders have dominated the award in the last few years so names like Jacobs ( both D & B), Perkins, McGregor, Molan, King, Douglas, Julier, Mitchell, Miles and Theodore are sure to be mentioned.
Whoever receives the medal will become a part of the rich history of the league and join names like Galea, Clarke, McGaw, Fitzpatrick, Sir ,Frost and Venner and most notably Priest.
Last Modified on 15/09/2009 13:58