For the second year running Port Douglas mid-fielder Daniel Smith will wear the Crathern Medal around his neck but have no footy to play on the weekend. Smith won the best and fairest award at last night’s AFL Cairns presentation, coming from behind to beat James Coatsworth for the medal.
While delighted at the success, Smith said he would take it all back for a crack at Saturday’s grand final.
"It’s hard not being able to play in the final and I’d give away both of them (medals) for a chance to play in one of them," he said. "But I’m sure I’ll look back when I’m finished playing and it’s these accomplishments you can appreciate. Looking at the list of previous winners, it’s an honour to be one of them."
Smith is the first man to defend his prize since fellow Port Douglas player Rod Davidson snared back-to-back Crathern Medals in 1990-91. The Crocs’ everywhere man was just as effective as he was last year, despite the extra attention he received after picking up the award in his debut season.
Smith easily beat the contenders to the gong, accruing 27 votes to beat Saints player-coach Coatsworth by six, with Hawks linchpin Lukas Ehlich a further six votes back. Coatsworth was injured during the middle of the season and missed several games, but there is no doubting the nuggetty ball-winner from Port Douglas has been an absolute stand-out since moving from Red Hill in the Mornington Peninsula League two seasons ago.
Other major award winners included coach of the year Andy Viola, who also picked up the Queensland coach of the year gong, while Cairns City Lions’ Aaron Robbins snagged the goal of the year thanks to his scissor-kicking effort and Port’s Matt Shaw’s massive hang time in the goal square was enough to claim the mark of the year.
AFL Cairns president Gary Young said it had been a typically good standard of football despite it being tough to keep players in the region.
Read more at http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/09/13/182111_local-sport-news.html
Courtesy of The Cairns Post.
Last Modified on 13/09/2011 08:45