The Scarecrow
18 Aug 2004, 01:32
From The Mercury By: DAVID STOCKDALE
NEW Norfolk's dominance of the Southern Premier League was underlined last night when two of its stars tied for the William Leitch Medal.
Midfielders Roger Belcher, 25, and Brock Ackerley, 22, were dual winners with 15 votes. It is believed to be the first time the medal has been won by two players from the same club.
The Eagles' dual success was especially welcomed by Belcher, who missed out on winning what was then the Horrie Gorringe Medal because he was ineligible through suspension.
``I was found guilty for striking in a game against Brighton, and although I was given a suspended sentence and didn't miss any matches I was ineligible to win it,'' he said.
``Now we have to go on with the job after finishing on top and win the one that really matters, which is the premiership.''
Ackerley agreed, saying: ``This is great but it's the medal they put around your neck after a grand final that really matters.''
He dedicated his medal to his ``Pop'', who died several years ago.
Kingborough ruckman Marshall Pestrucci was third with 13 votes. He was followed by team-mate Jamie Harris who, along with New Norfolk coach Matthew Smith, polled 12 votes.
It was the first time the William Leitch Medal has been awarded in the Southern Premier League.
For many years the best and fairest award in the old TFL, the medal was passed on by Tasmania's VFL club the Devils after it struck a new award named in honour of Tasmanian-born Brisbane triple AFL premiership full-forward Alastair Lynch.
Top Regional League club Cygnet also stamped its imprimatur on its competition when on-baller Jeremy Brereton won the Hodgman Medal with 18 votes.
Brereton, who previously played for the Devils and North Hobart, was a clear winner from Kermandie defender David Reynolds (15).
There was a four-way tie for third on 14 votes between Dodges Ferry midfielder and last year's winner Danny Noonan, his team-mate Craig McLeod, Huonville coach Nathan Longman and Channel utility player Ben Swards.
NEW Norfolk's dominance of the Southern Premier League was underlined last night when two of its stars tied for the William Leitch Medal.
Midfielders Roger Belcher, 25, and Brock Ackerley, 22, were dual winners with 15 votes. It is believed to be the first time the medal has been won by two players from the same club.
The Eagles' dual success was especially welcomed by Belcher, who missed out on winning what was then the Horrie Gorringe Medal because he was ineligible through suspension.
``I was found guilty for striking in a game against Brighton, and although I was given a suspended sentence and didn't miss any matches I was ineligible to win it,'' he said.
``Now we have to go on with the job after finishing on top and win the one that really matters, which is the premiership.''
Ackerley agreed, saying: ``This is great but it's the medal they put around your neck after a grand final that really matters.''
He dedicated his medal to his ``Pop'', who died several years ago.
Kingborough ruckman Marshall Pestrucci was third with 13 votes. He was followed by team-mate Jamie Harris who, along with New Norfolk coach Matthew Smith, polled 12 votes.
It was the first time the William Leitch Medal has been awarded in the Southern Premier League.
For many years the best and fairest award in the old TFL, the medal was passed on by Tasmania's VFL club the Devils after it struck a new award named in honour of Tasmanian-born Brisbane triple AFL premiership full-forward Alastair Lynch.
Top Regional League club Cygnet also stamped its imprimatur on its competition when on-baller Jeremy Brereton won the Hodgman Medal with 18 votes.
Brereton, who previously played for the Devils and North Hobart, was a clear winner from Kermandie defender David Reynolds (15).
There was a four-way tie for third on 14 votes between Dodges Ferry midfielder and last year's winner Danny Noonan, his team-mate Craig McLeod, Huonville coach Nathan Longman and Channel utility player Ben Swards.