MELBOURNE Demon Kyle Cheney's consistency in the Victorian Football League was rewarded with second place in Casey Scorpions' best and fairest count.
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Cheney, 21, played two games for Melbourne in 2010 despite strong efforts for the club's affiliate side.
Recruited from Warrack Eagles, Cheney fell two votes adrift of delisted Melbourne forward Brad Miller in the count.
He won the $3000 Leader -ALARAH Casey Scorpions VFL player of the year award, voted on by the club's match committee.
Cheney, at home on a visit to Warracknabeal, said he was pleased with his form at VFL level and would strive to add to his AFL tally next season.
"I've still got another year on my contract," Cheney said.
"I was pretty happy with my year. Internally, it was frustrating the amount of opportunities at AFL level but I was happy with my form at VFL level.
"Defensively I thought I was pretty good. I had a role most weeks stopping an opposition forward and I thought I rebounded a lot better this year as well."
Cheney said the Melbourne back line was developing and made it hard to sneak in.
"With the seven players we've got in defence, it's one of the best years they've had to date," Cheney said.
"James Frawley made the All-Australian team and their form was good and it was hard to break into.
"Hopefully next year I can get a good pre-season in and hopefully crack in to it."
Cheney will return to Melbourne tomorrow ahead of pre-season training on Thursday.
He will travel to China with the club on October 10 for an exhibition match against Brisbane.
"It should be a good trip, a good opportunity for the club to build," Cheney said.
Most people involved with the Demons are travelling to China, but Cheney said president Jim Stynes, who is fighting cancer, might be forced to stay home.
Cheney said Stynes had already done so much for the club.
