ISAAC Templeton was taking a nap before he received a phone call telling him to rush down to yesterday’s Maskell Medal vote count.
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The Koroit skipper arrived at City Memorial Bowls Club just in time to receive the Hampden league’s top honour.
Templeton, 29, won a thrilling count, polling 20 votes to finish one clear of Terang Mortlake veteran Damian O’Connor.
Warrnambool forward Jason Rowan and Cobden tall Paul Hinkley finished equal third with 18 votes and Blues ruckman Andrew McCarthy was one further back with 17.
Templeton said he was surprised to hear he was one of the award’s leading contenders.
“I was sound asleep 15 minutes ago and thought ‘I should get here’. It took 10 minutes to do my hair and five minutes to drive here,” he joked when presented with his trophy and medal on stage.
Templeton polled in eight games, including four three-vote efforts, while O’Connor snared five best-on-ground results across the eight games he polled in.
Rowan started the count with five best-on-ground performances in the first seven rounds, while Hinkley had 10 of his votes on the board by the same mark.
Of the top five, only Rowan collected final-round votes.
Templeton said he arrived just in time to hear his name read out.
“I saw the last three games of the last round,” he said.
“I didn’t even know who was winning when I got here. I had no idea.
“I am not really into individual stuff, it’s more about the team.
“But obviously it’s an honour and when I am older I will look back at it and be pretty proud.”
Templeton’s win made it back-to-back Maskell Medal wins for Koroit after Ben Goodall took out the 2013 award.
The Caramut-raised midfielder, who has missed just three games since 2007, rated his season as consistent.
“I just chip away,” Templeton said.
“If you are onball you’re under their (the umpires’) noses a bit more and I tried to be a bit nicer to them this year.”
Templeton first arrived at Victoria Park in 2007.
He spent the 2012 season at Geelong league club St Mary’s before returning to the Saints as captain.
“(I enjoy) helping the young kids with their game and trying to lead by example,” he said.
“Jayden Brennan and Willem Drew (are coming through the ranks).
“He (Drew) is only 15 so it’s unbelievable.
“Joe McLaren is 21 years older than him.”
The Hampden interleague representative is keen to add to his 2007 and 2009 flags this weekend when the Saints take on Warrnambool in the grand final.
“This would mean the most really, if we could manage to get there, just being a bit older and no one expects us to win,” Templeton said.
“We’ll need to get the ball in the midfield and cut their forwards out.
“They’re pretty even all over the ground, so that makes it tough.”
Templeton said the Saints’ preliminary final win against North Warrnambool Eagles was satisfying but warned complacency would hurt them against the Blues.
“It gives you confidence but Warrnambool all year have shown they’re a step above everyone else again,” he said.
“You take a bit out of it but you don’t get too far ahead of yourselves because you realise you have to get better.”