MORE than 350 people gathered at Moonee Valley Race Course for the 2016 WRFL Senior Presentation on Thursday night.
The presentation was a chance for those involved in the league, including players, coaches, umpires, club officials, volunteers and sponsors to come together and reflect on the year that was.
Deer Park star Kwame McHarg added his name to the list of Barry Priest medal winners, claiming the Division 1 Best and Fairest award.
McHarg polled 24 votes to win the award, five ahead of Spotswood’s Tom Langlands and Altona’s Jordan Robbins.
When the count began at Round 12, it was St Albans champion Tim Jenkins who led the pack by four votes.
However, McHarg had four best on ground performances in the final six rounds to be crowned champion.
In Division 2, North Footscray midfielder Kieran Murphy won the Alan Smith Medal. He won the best and fairest award from Yarraville Seddon Eagles player Lachlan Longmire.
Longmire led the count for most of the night, however a best on ground performance in Round 18, secured the medal for Murphy by a single vote.
The final leaderboard had Murphy on 21 votes, Longmire on 20 votes and in third place was Glen Orden captain Mark Pozzuto on 15 votes.
It was a close finish in the Division 3 Best and Fairest count, with Todd Lawrie from the Tarneit Football Club, taking home the Ron and Thelma Angwin medal.
Lawrie finished the count on 17 votes, one ahead of Parkside star and last year’s winner Ben Ashman.
Brayden Kitchen from Hoppers Crossing was named the Under-19 Division 1 Best and Fairest award, while Werribee Districts youngster Scott Woods claimed the Under-19 Division 2 medal.
In the Division 1 Reserves it was Brett Miller from Altona, who won his fifth straight Best and Fairest award.
In the Division 2 Reserves, North Footscray player Matthew Bellingham was crowned the competition’s best. He finished the count on 15 votes.
Rounding out the Reserves, it was Christopher Stevens from the Wyndham Suns who won the Division 3 Best and Fairest award on 16 votes.
Other awards handed out on the night included the 2016 Rookie of the Year. The award was presented to rising star Kelly Pickard from the Altona Football Club.
Newport Power coach Mark Williams was named the AFCA Senior Coach of the Year.
Spotswood player Tom Langlands was presented with the SEN 1116 Most Valuable Player award.
The WRFL’s Vic Metro representatives were also honoured.
Interleague coach Anthony Eames presented plaques to Deer Park duo Tim Quick and Jase Perkins, Hoppers Crossing stars Braden Ferrari and Harley Weston-Armstrong, Werribee Districts player Matthew Dean, Albion’s Josh Bench and Sunshine’s Daniel Castellano.
The Field Umpire of the Year went to Shamus Dundon, the Boundary Umpire of the Year was awarded to Jordan Wiltshire and the Trevor Budge was named Goal Umpire of the Year.
The Melbourne Injury Lawyers Unsung Hero Award was presented to Spotswood’s Stephen Jamieson.
The Lindsay Patching Memorial Club Official of the Year went to Naomi Redpath from Altona Juniors.
Finally, Ross Couzens was presented with the Media Award.
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Last Modified on 23/09/2016 14:06