The Tigers midfielder, who has been juggling relief teaching work with a new driving school business, was the runaway winner of the Warrnambool and District league reserves footy best and fairest award.

He polled 11 votes in the final four rounds – including three best on ground performances – to finish 10 votes clear of joint runners-up Martin Wynd, from Kolora-Noorat, and Jamie McKenzie, from Old Collegians.

“I thought I played a few OK games later on, but I also thought the team was doing better, so there were probably a lot of people playing well,” Crute said.

Merrivale spearhead Matthew Auld won the reserves goalkicking award for the fifth time, booting 64 majors for the season.