The Port Magpies recently celebrated a successful year in front of 100 supporters, players and sponsors at the Settlers Inn.
Jesse Schmidt made it a "hat trick" of consecutive Club Best & Fairest Awards but not before Craig Dicker joined him on 55 votes to share the honours in a thrilling finish with the very last vote counted for the season. Whilst Jesse's achievement of successfully retaining the clubs most prestigious player award was well received by all those in attendance, the joint success shared by Craig in his first season with the club was celebrated equally as strong.
Matt Lill made a late charge at the title scoring the perfect 9 votes in both of the final two games counted to narrowly fall short of the joint winners collecting the runners-up silverware from Greg Dean in third place.
Club veteran, Craig Carroll took out the Reserves Best and Fairest Award by five votes, from Troy Kelly, who in contrast was playing in his first year for the club after moving to the area from Melbourne.
The Under 18s saw 16-year old captain, Liam Carroll go one better than his 2009 Runners Up effort to secure the Best & Fairest Award from Alex Gillman and rookie Ryan McMahon in joint 2nd with Jamie Williams taking 3rd place in his first year at this level. Carroll, himself had a great year, representing the club in all Under 18 and Senior games, including the Senior Interleague fixture in Armidale.
Kim Kriss was awarded the prestigeous Club Person of the Year having volunteered countless hours in the club canteen and to fundraising activities.
The night also saw three worthy life members recognised for their long-term contribution to the Magpies club:
Paul Sheldon- Club President, Captain and Coach of record-breaking Reserve Grade side, North Coast AFL Committee Representative, Team Manager and Assistant Coach- AFL North Coast Team of the Decade.
Shirlene Smith- Partner to Paul and "right hand woman", long-serving committee member, team launderer, and dedicated team fundraiser and canteen worker.
John Stangherlin- Club physio and runner for the last six years- filling these roles in the AFL North Coast Team of the Decade, and instrumental to the development of the club- serving such roles as Under 12s and 18s coach, 100 plus games as a player, and Junior and Senior club committee member.
Sheldon, in summing up 2010, was proud of the Magpies' achievements.
"All in all it was a good year. A win in the Reserves and the Under 18s showing plenty for a playing group made up of 16 year old young men taking on bigger and strong opposition was a great sign going forward," Sheldon said.
"We would have liked a better showing in the Seniors Grand Final but still for our players, we still made it there and others did not.
AWARD UNDER 18s RESERVES SENIORS
Best & Fairest Liam Carroll Craig Carroll Jesse Schmidt & Craig Dicker
2nd B&F Alex Gillman/ Troy Kelly Matthew Lill
Ryan McMahon
3rd B&F Jamie Williams Rodney Wright Greg Dean
Best Team Man Ben Cutler Jack Tate Shannon Skreja
Most Determined Jack Tate Anthony Beasley Justin Mohr
Most Consistent Brayden Kennedy Mark Clark Liam Carroll
Goal Kicking Award Jamie Williams 14 goals Craig Carroll 24 goals Jesse Schmidt 43
Best in Finals Alex Gillman Gordon Wiegold Matthew Lill
Rookie of the Year Will Wright
We are looking forward to season 2011 with renewed vigour and a full playing list. All players have committed again for all sides and we have picked up 3 footballers in town already."
PORT MAGPIES 2010 HONOUR ROLL
Last Modified on 22/10/2010 21:45