MORE time as an out-and-out ruckman is paying dividends for Old Collegians’ Scott Lenehan, with the 27-year-old claiming the Warrnambool and District Football Netball League’s richest individual honour.
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The towering Warrior toppled teammate Nick Sullivan for the J.A. Esam Medal on Wednesday night after a flurry of early-round votes.
Lenehan has regularly torn through his opposition, notching three best-on-ground nominations this season in a star-studded Collegians side.
He polled a chunk of his 25 votes early in the count to be neck-and-neck with East Warrnambool’s Danny Chatfield before Sullivan (19) swooped late.
Lenehan said he was thriving with the sole responsibility of Old Collegians’ ruck duties, but was shocked to clinch the award.
“I’ve done a lot of it on my own. I’ve probably had 95 per cent of the ruck work this season,” he said.
“I really enjoy that, I don’t like spending a lot of time off the ground.
It’s one of the last positions on the field where it is one versus one.
“There’s a lot of good ruckman in this league, so it’s a good contest every single week.”
After returning to Warrnambool following the completion of a university degree, Lenehan spent one season at league rival Allansford before crossing to the Davidson Oval in 2016.
The big man was a key figure in the club’s 2016 and 2017 minor premierships, slotting 20 majors as a ruck-forward hybrid in 2016.
He has managed 10 goals as a full-time ruckman this season.
Lenehan said the Warriors were well-prepared and determined to lock in a second consecutive grand final berth.
“I personally think we’re a better side than we were last year,” he told The Standard.
“I know we went through undefeated last year, but I don’t think we’ve had a full side on the park at once this season.
“The semi-final on Saturday will probably be the first time we’ve had a full side on the park all season, so we’ll definitely see where we’re at.”