Armitage wins the 2013 Phelan Medal
By Alison Zell
In a nail-biting finish to the AFL Sydney Premier Division Best and Fairest award, presented in front of more than 500 guests at Doltone House on Monday night, Armitage scored three votes in the final round to win the prestigious medal from North Shore’s Sam Curruthers.
Armitage had a strong lead heading into the final six rounds but Carruthers polled well at the back end of the year, including three votes as best on ground in Round 17 to take the lead by two votes with one round to go.
With Armitage in Fiji attending a wedding during Manly’s Round 17 draw with St George, the club paid his flight home so he could play the final round.
In the Round 18 game against Carruthers’ North Shore side, he kicked three final-quarter goals to play a big part in his team’s win over their arch rivals. Armitage polled the three votes in the last game of the year to snatch the win by just one vote.
Armitage’s individual recognition is a just reward for the Wolves, who have had an outstanding season after being promoted from Division One last year. The Manly side were undefeated for the first nine rounds of the season, finishing with just three loss for the year and are set to face Pennant Hills in the Grand Final this weekend.
Armitage is a former Under-18s Best and Fairest winner, Snow Medallist for Division One Best and Fairest and current captain of the Wolves’ Premier Division side.
The silky left-footer, who plays off the half-forward line, received his award from reigning Phelan Medallist and current Sydney Swans player Dane Rampe, who enjoyed the night with his former UNSW-ES Bulldogs teammates.
Hosted by television and radio personality, Hamish McLachlan, the night recognised the achievements of individuals, volunteers and clubs who excelled during the 2013 AFL Sydney season.
Special guests included AFL Commissioner Sam Mostyn, NSW Minister for Women Pru Goward, Sydney Swans outgoing Chairman Richard Colless, GWS GIANTS Chairman Tony Shephard and COO Richard Griffiths and White Ribbon Chairman Ken Gillespie and CEO Libby Davies.
AFL Sydney icon Barnaby Howarth was inducted into the AFL Sydney Hall of Fame along with Western Suburbs’ goal kicking legend Lindsay Hetherington.
Barbara Dickin from Western Suburbs was presented with the Ken Ferguson Award as AFL Sydney Volunteer of the Year while Southern Power’s Lauren Hodgson was named as the AFL Sydney Women’s Volunteer of the Year.
|
Award |
Recipient |
Club |
|
Phelan Medal – AFL Sydney Best & Fairest |
Tyrone Armitage |
Manly-Warringah |
|
Snow Medal – Division One Best & Fairest |
Stuart Brierty |
Southern Power |
|
Army AFL Sydney Women’s Division One Best & Fairest |
Madelane Collier |
Wollongong |
|
Club Championship Award |
|
Manly-Warringah |
|
Ken Ferguson Award – Volunteer of the Year |
Barbara Dickin |
Western Suburbs |
|
AFL Sydney Women’s Volunteer of the Year |
Lauren Hodgson |
Southern Power |
|
AFL Sydney Rising Star |
Levi Sands |
Western Suburbs |
|
AFL Sydney Women’s Rising Star |
Stephanie Walker |
Sydney University |
|
Kealy Medal – Under-18s Division One Best & Fairest |
Matthew Vicic |
Sydney University |
|
Sanders Medal – Division Two Best & Fairest |
Josiah Ayling |
Camden |
|
Howarth Trophy – Representative Player of the Year |
Courtney Gum |
UNSW/ES |
|
McFarlane Medal – Division Three Best & Fairest |
Christopher Noordhof |
Western Suburbs |
|
Armstrong Medal – Division Four Best & Fairest |
Alexander Huggins |
Pennant Hills |
|
Apted Medal – Division Five Best & Fairest |
Ben Laid |
Camden |
|
Hart Medal – U18 Division Two Best & Fairest |
James Bowman |
Moorebank |
|
Army AFL Sydney Women’s Division Two Best & Fairest |
Amanda Farrugia |
Macquarie University |
|
AFL Sydney Hall of Fame |
Lindsay Hetherington & Barnaby Howarth |
|
|
Stan Milton Trophy – PD Leading Goalkicker |
Rory Miller – Western Suburbs – 63 goals |
|
|
Division One Leading Goalkicker |
Benjamin Rogers – Holroyd-Parramatta – 61 goals |
|
|
Division Two Leading Goalkicker |
Matthew Rawle – Manly-Warringah – 65 goals |
|
|
Division Three Leading Goalkicker |
Ashley Moeller – Blacktown – 110 goals |
|
|
Division Four Leading Goalkicker |
David Backler – UNSW/ES – 61 goals |
|
|
Division Five Leading Goalkicker |
Ben Laid – Camden – 37 goals |
|
|
Under-18s Division One Leading Goalkicker |
Daniel Preen – Pennant Hills – 56 goals |
|
|
Under-18s Division Two Leading Goalkicker |
Mitchell Bell – Manly-Warringah – 40 goals |
|
|
Women’s Division One Leading Goalkicker |
Belinda Pride – Balmain – 37 goals |
|
|
Women’s Division Two Leading Goalkicker |
Amanda Farrugia – Macquarie University – 39 goals |
|
