The 2010 Presentation Night for the Tamworth Swans Australian Football Club was held on Friday the 15th of October at the Oxley Bowling Club.
The night opened with the count of the first six rounds of the season, which promised to be one of the tightest and most unpredictable the Club has seen. After six rounds, Lachlan "The Prodigal Son" Rowling lead the field with 20 votes, ahead of Gavin Knee on 12 and Simon Freer on 11, with Damien Wendt polling 7 to that point.
Presentations were made to Brendan George and Andrew Donohue as retiring players in recognition of their service to the Club. Donohue indicated that he may yet return in 2011, at which time it was made clear he had his one retirement gift from the Club.
'Speshul' awards were then presented to Dean Finlay, Gavin Knee, Damien Wendt, Stuart Harris, Colin Gallen, Will Priest and Garry Harriott to mark some of the more comical moments of 2010. Ben Sowden won two speshul awards, and was also awarded the new Green Ant perpetual award.
The efforts of the Club's volunteers, particularly Veronica Griffiths, Rene Bonomo, Andy Larpent and Brian Cox were recognised, with presentations made to the younger volunteers in Lachlan Freer, Isiah Darcy, Tom and Cooper Kelly, and Thomas and Charlie McKenzie. Paul Kelly was presented with his regional award, named the Volunteer of the Year for the Tamworth region by AFL NSW/ACT. A presentation was also made to coach Garry Harriott.
The contribution of the Club's sponsors was also recognised, with presentations to Farmer Bob's, Readymix Concrete, Bakers Delight, Wests Diggers, KFC, Burke & Smyth and the Oxley Bowling Club. Board members from the Oxley Bowling Club spoke highly of the Club's involvement in 2010, and in presenting the final sponsorship installment indicated their hope that the sponsorship arrangement may continue beyond 2011.
The best and fairest count then continued for rounds 7 through 12, with Lachlan Rowling still on top at that stage with his 20 votes, followed by Jason Darcy and Gavin Knee on 17, with Will Priest and Damien Wendt on 15 and Simon Freer on 12.
William Priest was named the Player's Player for 2010. In his first year of football, Priest's uncompromising and gallant displays won plenty of fans amongst his colleagues. His 26 votes saw of Josh McKenzie with 24, Gavin Knee with 22, Damien Wendt with 19, Joey Atkinson and Simon Freer with 18, Dane Miller with 16, Jason Darcy with 14, Stuart Harris with 13 and Travis Brown and Dean Finlay with 11.
After a short commercial break with the season's hottest new films, coach Garry Harriott presented awards to Jarara Jackomos, Dane Miller and Josh McKenzie for their efforts in 2010. The President's Award went to Nathan Bradburn, the Rookie of the Year to William Priest and the Player of the Finals to Josh McKenzie.
Gavin Knee's 31 goals from the centre earnt him another gong as the Leading Goal Kicker. Knee saw off a late challenge from Josh McKenzie, who finished with 25, ahead of Jason Darcy with 23, Mitchell Firth and Simon Freer with 18, Nathan Keam with 12, Nathan Bradburn with 7, Simon Collins with 6 and Jacob Cutmore with 5.
The last six rounds of votes in the best and fairest were counted, following which Gavin Knee and Simon Freer were left tied in second place on 23 votes. Damien Wendt was named the Swans' best and fairest for the third time, polling very strongly late in the season to bag a total of 29 votes. Other notable pollers were Jason Darcy and yes, Lachlan Rowling, on 20, William Priest on 17, Dane Miller on 15, Joey Atkinson on 12 and Janson Doughty, Dean Finlay and Stuart Harris on 10.
By this time the plebiscite for the Clubperson of the Year had been tallied. After an initial deadlock, attempts at a countback proved futile and Paul Kelly and Josh McKenzie were named joint winners of the award.
A special presentation was then made to Veronica Griffiths. After nearly 15 years of dedicated and outstanding service to the Club, the membership resolved earlier in the season to bestow Life Membership upon Mrs V, a decision that was announced to Veronica for the first time on the night. Suitably surprised and, we trust, honoured, there is no person more worthy of being installed as the Club's first Life Member.
The 2010 Major Raffle was drawn by John Corcoran from Tamworth Mitsubishi. With an allowance for spelling errors in the interpretation of handwriting, the Blowes Menswear voucher was won by Rod Vidler, the service from Tamworth Mitsubishi by Rick Watt, the media player from Soundy's Electrical by Jarara Jackomos, the Bodyguard window tinting by Vivaldi and the big prize, a weekend at Macquarie Waters in Port Macquarie, by Amanda Dumble.
In the end a great night was had to sayonara the 2010 season, as the Club looks forward to 2011 and it's 15th year of football.
Last Modified on 17/10/2010 20:09