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THE Mathieson Medal has again been shrouded in controversy as Andrew Kelly was denied a second-successive GFL best and fairest.
The Colac star was tied on 18 votes with Bell Park forward Steve Paulke but was ineligible for the top prize after copping a one-match ban for striking.
Kelly was controversially denied the 2012 Mathieson Medal, despite claiming a runaway win, after accepting a one-match suspension for striking in Round 1.
This season, the nuggetty onballer challenged a set penalty for punching Geelong West-St Peter's James Hussey in a spiteful clash at Colac's Central Reserve in Round 14.
The Tigers challenged the penalty on the grounds he was not informed of the report by goal umpire Cody Espig until the start of the third term, despite being booked in the first quarter.
The Football Geelong tribunal ruled against Kelly, handing down a one-match ban and a two-match suspended sentence.
Kelly's ineligibility took the gloss off a stunning victory by Paulke, who polled in just seven games to snare the medal in a nail-biting count.
Paulke, who booted 44 goals in 17 matches this season, earnt three votes in clashes against North Shore in Round 1, Leopold in rounds 5 and 12, Newtown & Chilwell in Round 7 and St Joseph's in rounds 9 and 16. Kelly stormed home in the final rounds, polling twos against Grovedale and Bell Park to tie the count.
Finishing equal second on 16 votes was Bell Park midfielder Mitch Cuthill and Newtown & Chilwell onballer Matt McMahon, with Colac forward Kane Leersen fifth on 14 votes.
Leersen's teammate James Linton, widely tipped by GFL coaches to claim the medal, was sixth with 13 votes.
It capped a stunning season for Colac, whose leading three players accumulated 45 votes.
South Barwon's spread of talent was supported with 18 Swans polling votes the best of them ruckman Sam Stavenuiter with 10 votes.
The Dragons, with Paulke and Cuthill earning 34 votes between them, had 15 players poll in the count while the Eagles had 13.
