Wright claims Phelan Medal

Pennant Hills defender Kieran Wright has capped off a remarkable year claiming the Phelan Medal on Monday night for AFL Sydney’s best and fairest player.

Despite missing the last five matches of the season after tearing his pectoral muscle off the bone, Wright’s 20 votes were enough to win the league’s highest individual award.

The 29-year-old polled three votes ahead of East Coast’s Rowan Bilkey and four votes ahead of the Eagles’ Jamie Vlatko.

“It was unexpected [to win the award] because I knew I missed the last quarter of the season due to injury,” Wright said following Monday’s AFL Sydney Phelan Medal presentation night. 

“It was a bit of a waiting game in the end looking at the leader board and just expecting one of the stars from East Coast, Balmain or Sydney University to overtake me.

“Luckily I held on which was very unexpected.”

The medal is a fitting reward for the consistency and leadership the talented player has shown in his 111 games in the AFL Sydney competition after coming third (on 16 votes) in last season’s Phelan Medal count.

The achievement is even more remarkable considering Wright was playing soccer five years ago and had only kicked a Sherrin on the odd occasion.

“I played soccer my whole life and it [AFL] was a change I wanted,” Wright said.

“I always had an interest in AFL and … I haven’t looked back since. It’s one of those sports that even now I’m still learning the rules and skills.

“It’s one of those games that you can always improve. It’s been a big stepping stone.”

To top off a memorable 2011 season, Wright was named in the AFL Sydney Team of the Year and was selected to represent the league against Cairns earlier in the year.

Unfortunately for Pennant Hills they were knocked out in an elimination final to North Shore – the same side which brought a premature end to Wright’s season after sustaining the pectoral muscle injury.

Despite the result, Wright said the club is in the perfect position for the future with a number of long-term injured players expected to return for pre-season training.

“Talking around the track a lot of our injured players will be 100 percent ready to go next year. Hopefully with that experience back and building on the youth we produced this year … Penno will hopefully turnaround next year and make the Grand Final.”

Wright himself is one player who is recovering well from his injury but still has another three months of rehabilitation to go.  

East Coast Eagles and Balmain Dockers will play in this Saturday’s AFL Sydney Grand Final at Blacktown International Sportspark. The match starts at 3.30pm.

Other major award winners on the night were:

Snow Medal (Division One Best & Fairest)
Brett Harland – Macquarie University (19 votes)

Kealy Medal (Under 18 Premier Cup Best & Fairest)
Dominic Killworth – East Coast Eagles (17 votes)

Sanders Medal (Division Two Best & Fairest)
David Bradley – Penrith (17 votes)
Dale Chivas – Penrith (17 votes)

McFarlane Medal (Division Three Best & Fairest)
Daniel Roth – UNSW/ES (21 votes)

Hart Medal (Under 18 Challenge Cup Best & Fairest)
Bradley Plug – Balmain (19 votes)

Armstrong Medal (Division Four Best & Fairest)
Carter Mullins – Macquarie University (22 votes)

Apted Medal (Division Five Best & Fairest)
Daniel Balderston – Moorebank (18 votes)