The former Terang Mortlake player crossed to the Power for the 2015 season to be closer to his home and dairy farm at Noorat, and has quickly established himself as one of the Warrnambool and District league’s premier on-ballers, capped with a J.A. Esam Medal win on Wednesday night.

“I always wanted to play for the Power – just with the farm and that sort of thing, the pace just suited me better,” he said.

“I didn’t think I had too many years left (playing footy and juggling work) … but I’m certainly feeling fine at the moment and looking to kick on.”

The Power skipper finished joint runner-up in the award last year – alongside then teammate and now Panmure coach Joe Kenna – but a strong start to 2016 set him up to go one better this season.

Conheady attracted 20 of a possible 24 votes across the first eight rounds – including six best on ground performances – as the Power went 7-1 with their win-loss record.

The early burst proved vital in his medal win, as he only polled in one more game – a two-vote effort against Panmure in round 12 – and missed four games late in the season with a badly corked hip.

He returned in time for Kolora-Noorat’s final home-and-away game against Allansford, and looked unhampered in the qualifying final against Dennington.

Conheady’s nearest challenger for the Esam Medal was teammate and Power co-vice-captain Scott Judd, who polled 20 votes, making a late dash in the vote-getting with four best-on-ground performances in the last six rounds.

Nirranda captain Peter McDowall and Old Collegians’ midfielder/forward Colby Rix tied for third with 18 votes.

“I was just surprised, really (to win) – I guess I missed a few games so I didn’t really think I’d be in the mix, to be honest,” Conheady said.

Another Power star in Tim Ryan took out the senior footy goalkicking award with 89 majors for the season.