Mick Jennings had a good reason to push for the Mininera and District Football League to award retrospective best and fairest medals to those who missed out on count back.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Jennings, a current league board member, could have missed out when he tied for the Lewis Medal with the late Stuart Knight back in 1996.
“It was pretty close to my heart,” The former Wickliffe-Bolac star and three-time league medallist said.
"When Stuart and I won it it was the first time it had been shared without countback, so I was lucky.
“And because of that I felt it was really important for us to honour those who lost on countback, especially the ones who are still alive and could receive it and enjoy the moment.”
The league awarded eight retrospective medals at its presentation night this week which included Barry Pollock (Dunkeld – 1972), Jim Knight (Lake Bolac 1962, 1972), Andrew Geddes (SMW Rovers 1966), Geoffrey McIver (SMW Rovers – 1937) , Russell Park (Lake Bolac – 1953), Dick Hellyer (Wickliffe – 1957) and Graeme Reichman (Wickliffe – 1984).
Kel Murray delved into the league’s history books to discover the joint winners and their stories.
Geddes tied with his brother before missing out on count back.
The late Graeme Reichman has now won at least one medal in three different leagues across the south-west region – Mininera, Hampden (two) and Western Border.
Jennings said the one that stood out to him was Jim Knight receiving two retrospective medals to take his career tally to nine.
“It is quite an incredible story,” he said.
“I couldn’t imagine anywhere in Victoria someone winning nine league medals. He probably only played 15 years and won nine league medals, it is incredible.”
