HORSHAM Saints veteran Gavin Kelm has taken out this season’s Wimmera Football League reserves best and fairest for the league in a landslide victory.
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Kelm finished with 30 votes, 11 in front of Horsham’s Andrew Sears.
Minyip-Murtoa’s Justin Garth finished third with 12 votes.
The win comes 20 years after Kelm won the Toohey Medal with St Michael’s in 1998.
“It’s been a long time and it’s weird,” he said.
“I was a bit shocked doing my speech. Nathan Henry presented me the medal and I have some mates out there, so it was fitting. They have enjoyed the ride for 20 years.”
Kelm had a two-vote lead after round 13 before polling three votes in rounds 14, 15, 16 and 17.
“I only trained three times for the year and one was in pre-season so I knew I would start off slow,” he said.
“I knew that would be the case but I trusted the body and knew I would come home strong, but probably not that well.”
Kelm plays in his third reserves grand final on Saturday against Minyip-Murtoa.
“It will be my third reserves grand final – I’ve won two reserves grand finals and I’ve played in six losing senior grand finals for the Saints,” he said.
“It’s going to be a close contest. The last two games have been decided by five and four points.”
Kelm said he would be playing again next season.
“I’ll be going again, there just won’t be a pre-season,” he said.
“I need to thank my wife and my children. I enjoy seeing the smiles on Pippa and Maggie’s faces and they love seeing me play footy and that’s what it’s all about.”