Tight race … Dual Williamstown best-and-fairest award winner Brett Johnson. 50253
By Michael Esposito
WILLIAMSTOWN captain Brett Johnson was named the Seagulls’ best-and-fairest player at the club’s awards ceremony last Thursday, with runner-up Ben Jolley awarded the players’ player award.
Johnson, in an extremely close vote count, got the nod, for the second time in his career, ahead of Jolley by three votes, with Ben Davies, Peter Faulks and Matthew Little rounding out the top five. With a maximum of eight votes a player could receive each round, only six votes separated the top five.
Adding to Johnson’s memorable year, in which he was also named in the VFL team of the year and captained the VFL state side against WA, the skipper was one of four people to receive life-membership on the night. The other recipients were Graeme Kennedy, Graham Bird and president Trevor Monti.
The one prize missing from Johnson’s trophy cabinet was the premiership cup. He vowed to do everything in his power to go a couple of steps better next year.
“We made some great inroads this year as a team, which is only going to stand us in good stead for the future. I’m really looking forward to the first day of pre-season so we can put that in place and hopefully finish on a good note this year, because I’m sure we can,” he said.
Senior coach Peter German said he often did not see how big an impact Johnson had during games until he watched the video replay. Johnson’s tireless work at the clearances, his relentless tackling and the way he brings others into the game became more apparent the closer you watched him play.
Johnson reciprocated the praise, saying German has helped him improve his footy even further this season.
“Germo’s really challenged me to improve my football this year, to not rest on my laurels, not just being a senior player and letting things happen,” he said.
Jolley, who was named the club’s most valuable player as voted by his peers, was described by German as a player who often falls under the radar, but who has started to get the recognition he deserved this year with a guernsey in the VFL team of the year.
Peter Faulks and Ben Davies tied for the most consistent award, Cameron Lockwood won the coach’s award, Ed Carr was named most promising player and Matthew Little received the leading goalkicker award. Davies was also named best finals player.
The reserves best-and-fairest award was won by backman turned forward Michael Tanner, with Luke Cartelli runner-up. Nick Sing was named most consistent, Jeremy Mugavin the most determined, Dean Muir won the coach’s award and Sing was also named best player in finals.
