The Magpies star polled 22 votes to win the Michelsen Medal by two votes from last year's winner, Eaglehawk's Josh Bowe.

Golden Square full-forward Grant Weeks, who was ineligible for the medal, finished in a tie for third on 17 votes with Gisborne ruckman Tom Waters.

Hot favourite Simon Rosa never looked like challenging the leaders.

The Square star only polled six votes in the first 15 rounds, before closing with seven votes in the final three rounds.

It was Schultz who took the umpires eye.

Castlemaine only won two games for the season, but the former Port Melbourne rover stood out, polling six best on grounds.

Schultz led Bowe by just one vote with two rounds remaining. Schultz polled one vote in the Pies' 88-point loss to Sandhurst in round 17 before missing out in the round 18 game against Golden Square.

That opened the door for Bowe to pinch victory.

The classy rover was judged best on ground by the Bendigo Advertiser and his club in the 22-goal thumping of Kyneton.

However, he didn't poll a vote and Schultz took the honours.

"I'm blown away to win the medal,'' Schultz, who is in his first year in the BFL, said.

"You look around the league at all the talent, particularly at Golden Square with Simon (Rosa) and Weeksy, so it's a big honour.

"I can't thank the Castlemaine Football Club enough for what they've done for me this year.

"They're a wonderful club and there's a great young playing group there.

"I loved helping out the young guys this year. We didn't win a game last year, but this year we won a couple and it could have been two or three more.

"The club has a bright future."

Schultz, 29, said he would either return to Port Melbourne next season or stick with the Magpies.

"I really don't know what I'll do yet,'' he said.

"If I do go back to Port for a year or two, I'll still come back to Castlemaine after that. I love the club."

Michelsen Medal leaderboard: Wayne Schultz (Cm) 22, Josh Bowe (Eh) 20, Tom Waters (Gis) 17, Grant Weeks (GS) 17, Blair Holmes (Sh) 14, Simon Rosa (GS) 13, Luke Bucknall (Mb) 13, Tom May (Gis) 12, James Bristow (GS) 11, Brady Childs (SB) 11, Troy Coates (Eh) 11.

Meanwhille, the league marked a historic three-way tie for the Alan McDonald Medal in the reserves.

Gisborne's Marc O'Riley and Golden Square team-mates Jamie Garner and Luke Rosa were locked on 13 votes.

O'Riley and Garner played in Saturday night's preliminary final, which Gisborne won. From Hay, Garner is a second-year player at the Bulldogs after playing in last year's under-18s premiership, while Rosa was in defence as the Dogs won last year's seniors grand final.

The George Symons Medal for the under-18 best and fairest was won by Eaglehawk centreman Kevin Archbold.

At the end of 18 rounds, Archbold was on 27 votes, with Gisborne's Andre Headberry on 24, and Golden Sqaure's Jack Daley on 22.

The medal, now in its 42nd year, was presented by Ian Symons.

"This is a massive shock," Archbold said. "I never expected to win this. I thought maybe a top 10 finish, at best."

A second-year player in the under-18s, the 17-year-old qualifies to play for the Adam Metherell-coached Hawks next season.

The medal winner said an intense pre-season meant greater fitness.

"I also worked on being more consistent in games and in every round."

By Adam Bourke

Article first appeared The Bendigo Advertiser, 19 Sep, 2011