Michelsen Medal winners: years ending with a "3". Just as 2013 ends with a "3"

60 years ago -- 1953

Noel Evans (Sandhurst)

Wingman Noel clinched the second-ever Michelsen Medal with the count held in those times on first semi-final weekend. He scored 23 votes and went on to play a starring role in the Maroons' grand final loss to Eaglehawk, despite coming down with influenza in the week leading up to the big day.

50 years ago – 1963
Bob Vagg (Echuca)

Vagg was an important key position player with the Murray Bombers who had forged an intense BFL rivalry with near-neighbours, Rochester. He was just the second Echuca player to win the prestige award following in the footsteps of 1954 winner, Eddie Jackson.

40 years ago – 1973
Bernie McCarthy (South Bendigo)

The former VFL big man coached the Bloods in the mid-Seventies and won the Michelsen when he was 30. Bernie polled 26 votes to win the medal --- the first South player since Colin Rice in 1968. There would not be another South player to clinch the medal until Marty Graham, co-winner with United's Garry Mountjoy in 1984.

30 years ago – 1983
Greg Williams (Golden Square)

Greg was just 19 when he won his second consecutive Michelsen. He polled 22 votes, but the Bulldogs went down to arch-rival Sandhurst by seven points in the '83 grand final (17.9 to 17.16). Greg went on to enjoy a stellar VFL-AFL career with Geelong, the Sydney Swans and Carlton.

20 years ago – 1993
Ron Wicks (Kangaroo Flat)

Ronnie remains one of the most durable players the BFL has seen in the past few decades. A regular inter-league wingman for the Blue and Gold he polled 24 votes 20 years ago to win the medal and stamp his name among the immortals of the Bendigo competition.

10 years ago – 2003
Matt Fitzgerald (Gisborne)

Fitzy went on to win his second Michelsen four years later and thus stake a claim to membership of the 2000s Team of the Decade. A key midfielder and prime mover in Gisborne's premiership sides of the early to mid-2000s, Matt has recently been plying his trade in the London Aussie Rules competition.

By Richard Jones