By David Nagel
SOUTH EAST FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
PREVIEW – NORM WALKER MEDAL
CHAMPION Beaconsfield ruckman Scott Meyer and Doveton counterpart Russell Gabriel will once again feature heavily when the Norm Walker Medal goes up for grabs at the Cardinia Cultural Centre on Monday night.
Both players have won the South East Football Netball League’s top individual award on two occasions, Meyer going back-to-back in 2013, ’14, with Gabriel winning in 2009, before tying with Berwick skipper Madi Andrews on 17 votes last year.
Gabriel, big powerful and strong, will no doubt catch the umpires’ attention with his total dominance of the around-the-ground stoppages playing a key role in Doveton’s rise as prominent force in the SEFNL this year.
The Doves’ number-one big man played 15 of a possible 16 games, missing a Round 17 engagement against Hampton Park before finishing off with a near best-on-ground performance against Berwick.
It’s all set for a big finish from Gabriel, who could have his greatest foe in Meyer as his main stumbling block on Monday night.
Meyer – who polled 28 votes in 2013, and 23 when tying with Pakenham’s Dom Paynter in 2014 – has had a year to remember, but most of his highlights won’t affect the vote count at all.
Big Scotty was magnificent in the SEFNL’s big interleague win over the Murray League at Mulwala in May, before backing up with a best on ground performance for Vic Country against Vic Metro in the AFL Community Cup on July 10.
Meyer’s main vote-stealer at Beaconsfield over the last three years has been his co-captain Daniel Mislicki, but with Slicka missing four games this year the scene could be set for the athletic ruckman to once again dominate proceedings.
It’s worth remembering that Meyer has polled 63 votes in just 51 home-and-away games over the last three years so he’s sure to be prominent again.
But – on paper – this could be one of the most open vote counts in years.
Berwick has some eye-catchers with Ash Smith, Michael Riseley and Luke Sheppard providing plenty of run out of defence, while reigning medal winner Andrews has had a massive influence despite playing just eight games this season.
But eight games, tough opposition … surely not!
Smith looms as the main chance for the Wickers, with his powerful running and penetrating right foot sure to catch some attention. The now 26-year-old finished equal third behind Andrews and Gabriel last year and has had an equally effective season.
He could be the one to seriously challenge the two big men.
Cranbourne’s midfield is sure to be prominent, with Mat Fletcher, Shaun Marusic, Max Gearon and the ageing warhorse Ryan Davey looking to join team-mate Marc Holt (2012) as a recent winner of the award.
Marusic had a purple patch through the middle to back half of the season, while Fletcher is a proven eye-catcher, finishing equal third with Smith last year.
Fletch is exquisitely skilled, a smooth operator, and would be a popular winner after his injury woes of 2014.
If there is to be a smoky this year it could be exciting Doveton youngster Nick Battle who surprises, the hard-running left-footer having a huge impact after missing four of the first five games of the season.
Battle will be nowhere to be seen on the leaderboard early, but could rally late if the leaders haven’t kicked too far.
Narre Warren could also provide this year’s winner, with Dylan Quirk, Josh Tonna and Trent Cody having standout seasons through the midfield.
Cody has brought some polish from Noble Park, Quirk the best rover in the business, while an injury-free Tonna would be a worthy winner after a season of rare quality. His deadly left-foot has been working overtime this year, and he’s our tip to top the Magpies’ list by the end of the count.
Co-captain Michael Collins has also been effective but, if he hasn’t had Normie hanging around his neck by now he probably never will!
Dylan Chapman, Blair Allan and Ben Tivendale could poll well for Officer, while Damien Holmes and Luke Walker are two classy left-footers for Pakenham that could steal the umpires gaze.
Walker hasn’t had the season we all expected, but has gathered votes before and could do so again. Josh Muling looks the standout for Tooradin, with a massive possession count in some games sure to get his tally ticking over.
OUR TIPS
NO pressure Scotty, but we’ve got a perfect record in selecting winners over the last four years, including a tie between Andrews and Gabriel in 2015, and you’re this year’s selection to win a third award.
We’re tipping Ash Smith to make it back-to-back top-three placings and Josh Tonna and Russ Gabriel to round out a quality leaderboard.
But we could be totally wrong – it’s a quality field with many potential winners.
PREDICTIONS
1st Scott Meyer 21 votes
2nd Ash Smith 18 votes
3rd Josh Tonna 16 votes
Russell Gabriel
LAST 10 WINNERS VOTES
2005 Daniel Charles (Doveton) 31
2006 Dan O’Loughlin (Tooradin) 23
2007 Beau Miller (Tooradin) 26
2008 Brad Scalzo (Narre Warren) 22
2009 Russell Gabriel (Doveton) 18
2010 Michael Henry (Doveton) 24
2011 Beau Miller (Tooradin) 23
2012 Marc Holt (Cranbourne) 19
2013 Scott Meyer (Beaconsfield) 28
2014 Scott Meyer (Beaconsfield) and Dom Paynter (Pakenham) 23
2015 Madi Andrews (Berwick) and Russell Gabriel (Doveton) 17
