Koroit’s Drew O’Grady, Terang Mortlake’s Lachlan Barr, Camperdown’s Richard Couch, Hamilton Kangaroos’ Tim Robertson and Portland’s Hayden Dyke each polled 12 votes in a dramatic vote count at Deakin University on Sunday.

O’Grady and Barr, who both spent chunks of the season in the seniors, will go head-to-head in the reserves grand final on Saturday at Reid Oval.

O’Grady, 21, said the low-scoring count made for an intriguing finish.

“I am a bit excited and kind of shocked,” he said.

“I didn’t expect to win, especially with four other players.”

The Saints midfielder-forward notched nine senior appearances in 2015 and polled votes in five of his 12 seconds matches.

“I had a bit of a mixed year, played half and half really,” he said. 

“I was in and out of the seniors.

“I was probably a little bit quiet in the seniors and that’s probably why I didn’t get back in, but I didn’t play too bad in the reserves.”

Barr, 32, snared votes in five of his seven reserves games.

The Caramut recruit played in the Bloods’ senior preliminary final loss on Saturday but has qualified for the midday decider.

“I think I have another year of seniors left in me but there are a lot of good kids at Terang Mortlake so it will be hard to get a game,” he said.

Couch was rapt to share the award after gathering votes in seven of his 16 matches for Camperdown.

The Scotts Creek dairy farmer missed two games with family commitments after his father was hurt.

“He cut his arm with a bloody chainsaw, so that is why I missed two or three games in the middle there,” Couch said.

“He got it all stitched up so he’s all right now.”

The teenage Magpie said he enjoyed playing in the black and white stripes – “it’s something do on Saturdays”.

“It’s a bit hard to play seniors when you’re milking cows,” Couch said.

“They’re playing footy when you’re milking cows.”

Robertson, 33, capped off a comeback season with a best-and-fairest win.

The ruckman-forward joined Hamilton Kangaroos at the request of friends and made an impact, polling votes in five of his 12 games.

Robertson has played at Penshurst, Hamilton Magpies and Hamilton Imperials.

“I wanted to have one year at the merged club and I’ve enjoyed it,” he said.

“I had a few close mates who got me out of retirement.

“I didn’t play last year, I had a ruptured achilles and that was the end for me.

“It’s definitely the end now.”

Robertson said the five-way tie showed the evenness of the competition.

“You tend to see that in reserves counts because a majority of the players don’t play all season, whether they’re up in the seniors or they don’t commit or get injured,” he said.

“There were fifteen players in the top three. I’m still shocked but happy to be one of those winners.”

Dyke, 29, was thrilled to take home an award in his first Hampden league season.

The South West District senior best and fairest winner returned to Portland this year, notching 12 games in the yellow and black.

“When I saw the leaderboard was so close you knew they were probably going to pile up,” Dyke said.

“It is different in the reserves, not always people hanging around for the full season, they’re getting pulled up the seniors and so on so it was very interesting.”

Meanwhile, Cobden’s Paul Pekin and North Warrnambool Eagles’ Sophie Chow won the rising star awards, while Koroit’s Ben Dobson and Port Fairy’s Sarah Moroney were named most valuable players.