ON MONDAY night, the Horsham District league will crown its best and fairest award winners for the 2018 season, with a host of midfielders tipped to be in the running for the senior football award.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Harrow-Balmoral’s Nick Pekin and Kalkee’s Simon Hobbs are expected to poll well after stand-out seasons for their respective clubs.
Laharum coach Robbie Miller said it was hard to look past the Southern Roos playing coach.
“As long as his teammates don’t take too many votes off him, he would be up there,” Miller said.
“He is a quality and consistent midfielder and often under the umpires’ noses. Each time we played him he played well. He is a hard nut and he is definitely one to watch.
“Cam Bruce from Noradjuha-Quantong could poll reasonably well too, but it depends on the amount of games they won.”
Harrow-Balmoral assistant coach Simon Close said his side’s ruckman Todd Lawrence could take some votes away from Pekin.
“I think even Todd Lawrence could be a sneaky one – he has had a great year and played some great games,” he said. “Nick has had an exceptional year as coach and Simon Hobbs is all class. It’s going to be a really close count. It will probably come from the midfield or a ruckman.
“Edenhope-Apsley’s Chris Oliver floats across half-back and has a real influence, so he could be a sneaky chance as well.”
Last season’s winner and Swifts playing coach Scott Carey said Hobbs was influential in his first season back with Kalkee after crossing from the Horsham Demons.
“My favourite would be Simon Hobbs,” he said.
“He has had a pretty solid year in a team that has won most weeks and he has shone through kicking a few goals every week too.
“He should poll well. He is an eye-catching footballer and I think he might shine through.”
Carey spent about half of the season on the sidelines with a broken hand, ending his chances of going back-to-back.
Carey said Swifts teammate Ben Taylor stepped could also be in with a chance for the Dellar Medal.
“Ben Taylor should take over the mantle and he has been outstanding for us this year,” he said.
“He is a hard-ball winner so I would expect him to poll well this year. He might be a sneaky chance to take it home.”
In the A Grade netball, last year’s winner Caitlin Story of Laharum is a clear favourite after another outstanding season as goal shooter.
Norajduha-Quantong’s Brooke Pay, Edenhope-Apsley’s Alex Lang and Harrow-Balmoral’s Ebonie Salter could also poll well, while Natimuk United’s Shannon Couch was also strong.