Jack Collings has done it again! After another impressive season he polled the most votes in the Senior Grade for the fourth consecutive year to win the prestigious Keith Beavis Club Champion Award at the Mayne Tigers Annual Presentation Night at the Transcontinental Hotel last night.
Collings joins an elite club being only the third Mayne Tiger to win this award on four occasions over the course of almost 100 years following in the footsteps of Andrew Housego and Carl Herbert.
In typically humble fashion Collings accepted the award from club legend Rod Barber who presented the award. He didn’t think he would have been fortunate enough to receive the required votes given the impressive group of players that the Tigers fielded this year however he polled 112 votes to be a clear winner ahead of a very deserving Runner Up Best and Fairest Jasper Craven on 96 votes.
In addition to this achievement, Collings has been an exemplary Club Captain over the last four years and a member of the Club Committee in an all round leadership performance setting the bar very high for others to follow.
Craven returned to the club for 2020 after several seasons in the NEAFL at the Aspley Football Club and was a dynamic addition for the Tigers this year. He accepted the award amazingly thanking coach Josh Duffy for allowing him to come back into the fold for the 2020 season. He has been a revelation since breaking into the senior ranks for the Tigers in 2014 while still a wiry colt. There is absolutely no doubt that the Tigers would love to retain this young champion for many years to come.
It was the first time that the Mick Nolan Players Player Award has been shared with Dan Schmidt and Sam Paterson all tied up in the voting in a very congested leaderboard for this much coveted award. The two red heads were tongue tied in their joint response to winning the award but there is no doubt that the tall Schmidt had a breakout season as he dominated ruck duels and worked to great effect around the ground. Meanwhile Sam Paterson was his usual courageous and fearless best risking hair and skin for the Tigers every week as he has done for ten years in the senior ranks.
Coach Duffy gave the Tiger faithful an intimate look at how he saw the season with all the difficulties around the COVID lockdown and the impressive dedication of the playing group to meet all the challenges that they faced over this period. It had been a gruelling pre-season and everyone was primed to go after the first practice match so it was incredibly disappointing to have to up stumps and find ways to keep the group focussed and ready to come back should the season recommence.
He was incredibly proud of the group in that the numbers returning in June were in extremely good condition and primed for the season ahead which took the Tigers all the way to the Grand Final, a very pleasing result but there is a remaining and burning desire to go one better.
In other awards, this year’s Duncanson Todd Medal Winner Marcus Dyson took out the Rising Star Award. In presenting the award Duffy reminded everyone that Dyson is only 21 years old and has a massive future ahead of him.
Danny Craven presented the Everton Award for the local talent most likely to succeed at senior level. Craven reminded everyone of the impressive list of talent engraved on this perpetual trophy with a host of Mayne and Everton Juniors names who have all gone on to serve the club at the highest level. This year the award was presented to former Mayne junior Tom Eccleston.
Dean Hartley took out the Best Clubman Award once again but this year Coach Duffy let everyone know it was really a family award to include Dean’s wife Louise and children Isla, Aussie and Ella who never miss a game and provide a surrogate home away from home for many of the boys.
Jamie Ivers was once again high up in the voting and took out the Most Consistent Award for his terrific season in the ruck and as a key forward target. He was desperately unlucky to miss the grand final with injury which had a huge impact on the Tigers in that game.
Seb Windsor was awarded the Most Improved for a great season while his defensive partner Ryan Eyles took out the coaches award for his sacrificial performances week in and out against some of the best forwards in the competition.
In another terrific year for last year’s Rising Star, Zac Quin was also high on the leaderboard and he took out the Best in Finals award for his inspirational performances in the big games.
For all the other Award winners, check out this week's Tiger Rag.
Last Modified on 03/10/2020 07:38