Northern Rangers talent Nick Lanau-Atkinson was pipped in Saturday’s final NPL round from taking out the state’s highest individual honour later that night.
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The 23-year-old captain was leading the Mitsubishi best and fairest medal by one vote prior to Rangers’ 5-0 loss to Hobart Zebras.
But a best-on-ground to game rival Nicholas Groenewold pushed the Zebras star out to 20 votes, two ahead of Lanau-Atkinson.
Groenewold polled the three votes off teammate Matthew Sanders, who was controversially overlooked coming off his four-goal match against Rangers.
South Hobart pair Jack Turner and Nick Morton both finished on 17 votes, one behind Lanau-Atkinson.
Olympia’s Jakub Sklenar, who collected the golden boot award, failed to poll despite three goals on Saturday and finished on 16 votes.
But the dazzling Czech striker captured the players’ player award with 204 votes ahead of Groenewold on 161.
Launceston City striker Noah Mies meanwhile took out the rising star award as Tasmania’s best young player in a coaches’ vote.
He cemented his spot in the side mid-year and would impress with his play up front with six goals to provide City a late-season spark.
The coach of the year went to Ken Morton in guiding South Hobart to its title.
Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
