Geelong Advertiser |
MODEWARRE ball magnet Josh Finch experienced a sense of deja vu last night when he picked up his third Les Ash medal.
Finch cemented his status as one of the greats, winning consecutive medals and becoming only the second man to win three Bellarine Football League senior best and fairests.
He joins Newcomb's Paul Hudson, who won the Les Ash Medal in 1993, 1996 and 1997, as a three-time winner and surpasses Queenscliff's Mike Birrell (1977 and 1978) and Torquay's Chris Haddock (1990 and 1991).
Finch was a runaway winner in last night's count, polling 30 votes to beat Ocean Grove midfielder Liam Rock with 20 votes and Torquay's James Darke (18 votes).
The Warriors onballer polled in 12 of 18 games this season, earning best-on-ground honours in seven of them.
The men in orange awarded him three votes against Anglesea in Round 4, Barwon Heads in Round 6, Portarlington in Round 8, Queenscliff in Round 9, Geelong Amateur in Round 13, Newcomb in Round 14 and Anglesea in Round 16.
Finch also attracted votes in rounds five, seven, 12, 15 and 18.
Interestingly, the 2010 and 2012 winner was named in the best by his club in 12 matches this season, securing best afield honours against Anglesea, Ammos, Ocean Grove, Drysdale, Barwon Heads and reigning premier Queenscliff, twice.
Second placegetter Rock polled on nine occasions and snared three votes against Anglesea in Round 6, Portarlington in Round 7, Newcomb in Round 13, Barwon Heads in Round 14 and Torquay in Round 18.
Darke earned votes in nine matches and led home ruckman Michael MacFarlane and forward Scott Hughes, who each won 11 votes for the season.
Torquay's Scott Diamond won the Don Cole Medal for reserves best and fairest, polling 20 votes to beat Geelong Amateur's Tim Kent (13 votes) and Drysdale's Denis Biscan (12 votes).
BFL preliminary finals will be held this weekend at Drysdale with Geelong Amateur taking on Queenscliff, which suffered its first loss of the season to Drysdale last Saturday.
