KOROIT skipper Isaac Templeton has become the first Hampden footballer to win back-to-back Maskell medals in 33 years.
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The Saints midfielder polled 22 votes at the presentation day at Deakin University on Sunday to collect the coveted award for the second time in 12 months.
Templeton, 30, edged out Terang Mortlake ruckman-forward Steve Staunton, who finished runner-up on 18 votes.
Hot favourite, Koroit utility Ben Dobson, was third on 16, with Portland teenager Jake Edwards fourth one vote further back.
Templeton joins Camperdown’s Alan Woodman as the most recent back-to-back winners. Woodman won the Maskell Medal in 1982-83.
Templeton, who spent Sunday morning training with his Saints teammates before enjoying a motorbike ride, was humbled to win but is firmly focused on Koroit’s bid for back-to-back flags.
“It’s an honour but as far as I am concerned, players need to worry about this weekend,” he said.
“As Benny Goodall once said to me ‘there’s no point winning this if you don’t win the granny’. That was his theory when he won.”
Templeton polled in nine games, including six best-on-ground efforts.
He had a purple patch from rounds seven to 12, grabbing five three-vote games in a six-week stretch.
Templeton said the Saints’ strong form – they won the minor premiership – meant players were jostling for votes on a weekly basis.
“There could have been times where 10 players could have got the votes,” he said.
“I think James Gow was pretty stiff not to get a few… and I thought Ben Dobson would have won clearly.”
Koroit plays Warrnambool in the grand final on Saturday for the third time in three years. They’ve shared the spoils the past two seasons.
“I am really looking forward to it; I think all the boys are,” Templeton said.
“Obviously we need to buck the trend – the last two years people in our position (winners of the second semi) have lost. But I think our attitude is a lot better than two years ago.”