DARREN MONCRIEFF
Friday 29 June 2012
HE left this world way too early and his impact on football at home and abroad is never forgotten. Now WAFL club East Fremantle will pay homage to Gary Dhurrkay during the league's NAIDOC Round this weekend.
The Gary Dhurrrkay Medal will be presented to the Sharks' best reserves player in tomorrow's match against Perth at East Fremantle Oval.
Dhurrkay (pictured) played 46 games for East Fremantle between 1994 and 1998 including the 1994 and 1998 premierships. In the AFL, Dhurrkay he played 51 games for Fremantle and 21 for North Melbourne.
In 2005, Dhurrkay died in a motor vehicle accident in the Norrthern Territory. He was 31.
The award is one of many among the league's clubs this weekend.
The Sharks will honour perhaps one of its most prolific goalkickers with its best-on-ground performer winning the Kevin Taylor Medal.
Taylor played 101 games with the Sharks and kicked 247 goals.
In the VFL, he played 14 games for South Melbourne and one for Fitzroy.
Taylor was a member of the famous 1979 premiership side, a game in which he won the Simpson Medal (best-on-ground) and kicked seven goals including his 100th for the season on the way to the Bernie Naylor Medal (WAFL's leading goalkicker).
Taylor was a regular State of Origin player and represented WA between 1982 and 1984. In 1983 he was selected All-Australian side.
And the Sharks' Colts players will have a chance to take out the Patrick Ryder Medal for its best player.
Ryder was drafted by Essendon when he was part of East Fremantle's Colts side, having come through the ranks via its succcessful Shark Pack program.
South Fremantle and Claremont, whose 2006 match inspired the league to strengthen its NAIDOC Week committment, will again play for the Jimmy Melbourne Cup, after the man believed to be senior Australian football's first Aboriginal premiership player (West Perth 1901).
And Tigers and Bulldogs players will be in line to win four awards, namely the:
Mark of the Day John Gerovich/Michael Mitchell Award
Goal of the Day Jim Krakouer/Brad Hardie Award
Tackle of the Day Basil Campbell/Dale Kickett Award
Best On Ground Chris Lewis/Stephen Michael Award.
Next weekend, Perth and South Fremantle will clash for the inaugural Barry Cable/Stephen Michael Cup, named after two of the clubs' most famous players, at Lathlain Park.
The Demons will also host WA's Boomerangs players, who recently won back-to-back national KickStart championships.
Entry for this match will be via gold coin donation.
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 29/06/2012 17:33