The Courier |A ONE-WEEK suspension deep in the home and away season wasn’t enough to cost Smythesdale ruckman Rylan Rattley The Courier’s Central Highlands Football League player of the year award.
However, Rattley did have to share the honour with Newlyn assistant coach Dan Wehrung, who tied level with Rattley thanks to a two-vote game in round 17.
The pair finished the 2015 season with 35 votes, six more than Michael Cummings (Daylesford) and Shaun Campbell (Ballan).
It was both Smythesdale’s and Newlyn’s first award since former Bulldog Shannon Berriman and ex-Cat Tristan May tied with Learmonth’s Brodrick Campbell in 2012.
Meanwhile, Springbank has recaptured the mantle as the league’s most successful club.
The Tigers claimed the Merv and Mary Howard Champion Club shield for the second time after winning it first in 2013.
A scaled system, which allocates points based on wins in all football and netball grades throughout the home and away season, saw Springbank (264) finish clear of Buninyong (251), Bungaree (249) and Learmonth (223.5).
Hepburn won the award in 2014, but finished this year in sixth place.
Gordon forward Steve Nicholson was awarded the Shane Everard Memorial Goal Kicking Award for his 66 majors in the seniors’ home and away season.
Nicholson’s victory is the first by an Eagles footballer since Ian Denny won it in 1994.
Ballan’s Bernard Whelan booted 81 to win the reserves honour.