The Courier |STEVE Kennedy is commonly regarded as one of the Ballarat Football League's best players - now he has a Henderson Medal to prove it.
The Darley midfielder took out the BFL's best and fairest on Monday night, storming to victory courtesy of a spell-binding finish to the home and away season.
Kennedy polled 13 votes in the final six rounds to cruise to victory in the vote count, finishing with 24 votes, seven ahead of Lake Wendouree's Steve Clifton.
In winning, Kennedy became the second Devils player in three years to claim the medal, emulating the feats of teammate Jake Edwards in 2013.
However, his season is far from over as he hopes to become the first man since Lake Wendouree's Paul McMahon in 2010 to win the BFL grand final/Henderson Medal double.
Darley meets North Ballarat City in the season decider on Saturday.
"It’s just amazing, I really had no expectations at all heading into the night," Kennedy said.
"I actually thought I had a bit of a better year last year so it really is a massive shock.
"It was a surreal feeling really when I could sit back with a couple of rounds to go knowing I had won it.”
Kennedy played every match this year in his second season in the league.
He is the first to admit he had a somewhat slow start to the season after undergoing toe surgery just weeks before the start of the season.
However, the way Kennedy closed the season was nothing short of breathtaking.
Kennedy’s victory paves the way for a huge week down the Western Highway.
“It’s right up there with highlights for my career, but Saturday means a whole lot more,” he said.
“Having the week off has been great for the boys, it’s helped calm a lot of the boys and they are just excited.”
He will be an integral part of Darley’s premiership push on Saturday.
The Devils are yet to win a premiership in its 18-year history in the BFL.
Kennedy has tasted glory before, winning the 2012 Essendon District Football League grand final with Altona, and says he would love nothing more to compliment his personal accolade with a premierships medallion.