Unassuming midfielder Josh Ponting overshadowed the big names at State League premiers North Launceston to run away with a maiden Alastair Lynch Medal win.
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The stellar season ended perfectly on Saturday night in Hobart, polling 23 votes to finish a massive nine votes ahead of teammate Brad Cox-Goodyer and ineligible Clarence ruckman Jake Cox.
Bombers forward Zach Burt rounded off the top five with 12 votes, one behind Glenorchy’s Cameron Duffy.
Cox-Goodyer had entered the count as the reigning medalist, with the captain and coach Taylor Whitford, who tied for the 2018 TSL player of the year award, among the heavy favourites to ensure the Bombers took the honours again.
But Ponting was simply unstoppable late in the year, voted best-on-ground six times from his side’s 16 wins.
He polled 13 votes in the final 12 rounds that included back-to-back three votes in round 18 and 19 wins over Clarence and North Hobart to seal Tasmanian football’s highest individual award.
North Launceston had more wins on the night, as Sherrin Egger took home the Matthew Richardson Medal as the Tasmanian State League’s rookie of the year.
The 18-year-old made the move from Devonport to North Launceston when the North-West club pulled out of the 2018 season.
Highly-touted AFL draftee Tarryn Thomas expectedly picked up the Garry Davidson Medal as this year’s best Tasmanian at the under-18 national championships.
Thomas had already been named MVP in the national academy series before going on to play for the Allies at the national championships.
Launceston forward Mitch Thorp also received his Peter Hudson Medal at the gala night for kicking 62 goals.
Blues clubmate Anthony Liberatore capped off Launceston’s undefeated development league year to win the Rodney Eade Medal.
Liberatore, playing his first season in Tasmania, finished on 19 votes to edge out Clarence spearhead Daniel Reimers by two votes.
Clarence star Maddison Smith won a controversial TSLW best and fairest medal.
Smith who polled 14 votes, three ahead of Roos teammate Nicole Bresnehan, had kicked 23 goals up forward.
But Glenorchy women’s premiership hero Sarah Skinner notched up 22 votes, but had earlier been ruled ineligible after being handed a one-week suspension in round 7 for a dangerous tackle against Launceston.
The game in the North was also recognised for its outstanding efforts this year.
Belinda Kitto earned the AFL Tasmania merit award for her work with New Horizons, an organisation that has provided further football opportunities for persons with disabilities including state representation.
Prospect Hawks leader Craig Fox was named coach of the year for his continual work again with the NTJFA.
James Baldock from the Deloraine Auskick Centre was also announced the state’s volunteer of the year.
Alastair Lynch Medal Top 10:
23 – Joshua Ponting (North Launceston)
14 – Bradley Cox-Goodyer (North Launceston)
14 – *Jake Cox (Clarence)
13 – Cameron Duffy (Glenorchy)
12 – Zachary Burt (North Launceston)
11 – Troy Cunliffe (Clarence)
10 – Daniel Joseph (Glenorchy)
10 – Ryan Bailey (Clarence)
10 – Rhys Sutton (Lauderdale)
10 – Haydn Smith (Lauderdale)
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.
