PENSHURST coach Justin Eales finished runner-up in two league best and fairest counts before celebrating a breakthrough win on Monday night.
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The Bombers midfielder collected Mininera and District league’s top individual honour, the W. J. Lewis Medal, at a vote count at Lake Bolac.
Eales’ win bettered his 2009 second-place finish.
He was also Wimmera league runner-up in 2011 during a stint at Stawell.
Eales, 30, said he was humbled to win the MDFL prize after a consistent season for the Bombers. He said winning a league best and fairest for his home club was extra special.
“We’ve only had two winners at Penshurst (Max McLean and Grant Ewing) and Bill Lewis, who it’s named after, was from Penshurst,” Eales said.
Eales, who finished fourth in 2013, polled 23 votes to edge out Hawkesdale-Macarthur ruckman Lachlan Reichman (21 votes) and Tatyoon onballer Damian Cameron (20).
“I have come second in a few and I finally won one,” he said. “It was a bit of a shock.
“At no stage did I look like winning.
“I started slowly and caught up into the last round.
“They did my game first and I thought Lachie Reichman had it but he didn’t poll.
“Going in I thought Lachie would go very close.
“They had a good year and they won a lot and he was the dominant ruckman and kicked a lot of goals.
“Damian Cameron at Tatyoon is a gun player and I think he went away for three weeks, which helped.”
Eales rated his season “pretty consistent”.
The Penshurst 2009 premiership player led the Bombers to a semi-final.
“There weren’t many games I thought I was really bad; some were better than others and I didn’t miss any games,” he said.
Eales’ football journey started at Penshurst.
He spent four seasons at Hampden league powerhouse Warrnambool, playing in two losing grand finals in 2004 and 2008.
A one-year stint at the Bombers in 2009 culminated in premiership success before he played at Stawell for three years.
Eales, who returned to the Bombers last season, said he’d always been based in Penshurst and travelled to play football.
Moyston-Willaura and Tatyoon will meet in the Mininera and District league grand final on Saturday at Glenthompson.
justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au