The Courier |
OUTGOING East Point coach Dan Jordan’s stellar year in front of the goals has seen him named as The Courier’s Ballarat Football League player of the year.
A 10-goal haul in the final round of the year against Bacchus Marsh was enough to get Jordan just over the line, polling a total of 40 votes to finish just three votes ahead of 2011 and 2012 Henderson Medallist Jason McNamara (37), who did not poll in the final round.
Jordan polled in nine of the 18 rounds, awarded the maximum five votes on six occasions, as adjudged by The Courier’s football writers.
The reporters allocated votes after each match on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis.
McNamara polled in 10 rounds, but unlike Jordan, was only awarded the maximum votes four times.
Darley’s Nathan Jackel and North Ballarat City’s Tristan Cartledge (both 33) rounded out the top four.
Jordan, who previously won The Courier player of the year award in 2006, the same year he won the Henderson Medal, said it was a thrill to win the award.
“I’m actually still wearing the same watch as when I won last time, so it’s probably time for an upgrade,” he said.
“I sort of kept a bit of a look on the votes all year but not that often.
“It’s a pretty prestigious award and I’m honoured to win it.”
Although he fell just short in the Henderson Medal, Jordan scooped an armful of awards.
He also collected the Tony Lockett Medal, named in the team of the year, named coach of the year and received the mark of the year award.
And it would be amiss to not mention his fiancé Ebony Piera, who claimed the B-grade netball best and fairest award.
“It was a good night out and great to enjoy it with everyone from the club,” he said.
TOP 10
Dan Jordan (East Point) 40; Jason McNamara (North Ballarat City) 37; Nathan Jackel (Darley), Tristan Cartledge (North Ballarat City) 33; Daniel Velden (Bacchus Marsh), Jake Edwards (Darley), Derick Micallef (North Ballarat City) 25; Hayden Walters (East Point), Mitch Phelps (Redan) 23; Matthew Tuminello (Lake Wendouree) 21
CLUB LEADERS
BACCHUS MARSH: Daniel Velden, 25
BALLARAT: Luke Brennan, 20
DARLEY: Nathan Jackel, 33
EAST POINT: Dan Jordan, 40
LAKE WENDOUREE: Matthew Tumminello, 21
MELTON: Darren Haby, 14
MELTON SOUTH: Doug Thomas, 20
NORTH BALLARAT CITY: Tristan Cartledge, 33
REDAN: Mitch Phelps, 23
SEBASTOPOL: Michael Powell, 6
SUNBURY: Jay Cheep, 18
