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GFNC Past Players - “Heritage Day” / 1983 2nds Premiership Reunion function on -Saturday April 13th 2013 (Greta vs Whorouly).
- Volunteers Required - People needed to assist the team managers, in the role of entering weekly teams and results onto the official club website. Phone David Newth on 0448 863 984. Thankyou !
Midfield move key for Williams’ win
KING Valley star Adam Williams credits a more permanent midfield role as the key to his win in the Ovens and King league’s best-and-fairest award.
The 33-year-old capped off a dream debut season on Sunday night after becoming the first Roos player to win the Baker Medal since Stuart Cooper in 2004, and the third after Mark Porter (1994).
An Ovens and Murray interleague defender during his time with Wodonga, Williams said he was “keen to have another crack” at playing on the ball after joining King Valley in the off-season from Picola North-West outfit Jerilderie.
“I hardly polled anything in the O and M,” Williams said yesterday.
“Poor back-line blokes, they do a lot of work and don’t get much credit for it (laughs).
“I thought if the body held up I might be of use there.
“They’ve been chucking me in the back-line late in games, too, which is good.
“Basically you go where the coach says and try to do your best.”
Williams admitted to being “nervous” as he waited for the votes to be called from Saturday’s final-round clash away to Benalla All Blacks.
Trailing Panthers midfielder Daryl Webb, Williams, who has won multiple club best-and-fairest awards at Jerilderie and Western Eagles, in the Colac and District league, was named best-afield in the Roos’ two-goal win, with Webb failing to get a vote.
Williams, who was best-afield six times, finished with 25 votes, with Webb on 24 and Ryan Kent (Bright), Travers Nolan (Goorambat) and Mark Scholte (Milawa) all finishing on 18.
Pre-count favourites Jack Stamp, of Milawa, and Kyle Archibald, of Whorouly, finished with 17 and 15, respectively.
Williams, who won an Archie Dennis medal in 2001 playing in the midfield for Jerilderie, in the now-defunct Coreen and District league, said he was never confident of winning.
“There were three or four of us who I thought might be a chance,” he said.
“I was a bit worried going into the last round and you never know who is going to get votes.
“The week before when Archy (Archibald) kicked eight and tore us up he only got one vote.
“It is a big honour.”
Williams’ next focus is preparing for King Valley’s finals campaign.
The Roos play Greta in an elimination final at Friendlies Oval in Benalla on Sunday.
In a major boost, he said he would see out his playing days at the club.
“They’ve lived up to their reputation as a great club,” he said.
“I hope to play out the rest of my career there.
“I don’t want to move again.
“I’ve had the opportunity to go to good clubs.
“We (the family) are not planning on going anywhere for the next few years, or ever.”
By - CHRIS MITCHELL. Aug. 20, 2012
King Valley star Adam Williams was surprised to win the Baker Medal.
Picture: PETER MERKESTEYN
Last Modified on 21/08/2012 08:13
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