WARRACKNABEAL’S Charlie Wilson has claimed the Greater Western Victoria Rebels Adam Goodes Trophy as the best and fairest.
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His impressive year with the Rebels in the TAC Cup competition was rewarded on Sunday as the dangerous forward took out the top award.
Wilson topped the best and fairest vote count ahead of Matt Schnerring while Elliot Lamb rounded out the top three.
Wilson played mainly in attack, but as the season went on he forged his way into the midfield rotation.
He enjoyed a hot patch from rounds 10-13 where he kicked bags of four, six, three and five while averaging 19 touches and seven marks.
Wilson kicked 37 goals for the season, the third most in the competition.
His coach Marc Greig said he was one of the hardest trainers at the club, his work rate within a game highlighted by his 14 tackles in round nine.
“It’s a huge honour,” Wilson said.
“I was pretty consistent in the second half of the year. The first half I was a bit disappointed with how I was going, I had to change a few things.”
Greig said Wilson’s performances throughout the year hugely benefited the team.
“His training intensity was in the top three or four and he just trained with that high intensity,” he said.
“It is a good reward for a solid season. I think he averaged five marks a game, 18 touches, five tackles and two goals. You know what you are going to get every week. He is super competitive and he wants to win the ball.
“He is a forward but he had time in the midfield too and he won those one on ones and applied pressure, he wasn’t just kicking goals.”
Wilson recently tested at the AFL state combine and is a chance to be picked up at the draft next month.
“The draft is one of those tricky ones where you really don’t know what the recruiters are thinking,” Greig said.
“He has had a consistent season and has done what he needed to do. I’m sure he will have a good year wherever he is next season.
“He has a bright future ahead of him. He is a good young man and leads by example.”
There was also an award for Horsham Saints product Brayden Helyar, who received the coach’s award for the top aged players.
Greig said the backman always tried to get the best out of himself throughout the season.
“Brayden is one of those young fellas that when it comes to football he does a lot of thinking,” he said.
“Throughout the course of the year he checked in with us regularly and wanted to get the best out of himself. He is prepared to do the work and actually wants to get better.
“The last game against Dandenong you could see what he had been working on all year with body position and taking those intercept marks. He has a really positive attitude.”