Page 61 - AFL QUEENSLAND 2013 YEAR IN REVIEW

SOUTHPORT’S KIEL WINS GROGAN MEDAL
Haydn Kiel has followed in the footsteps of fellow Southport midfielder Fraser Pope, and taken out the NEAFL’s most prestigious individual honour; the Grogan Medal.
Pope claimed the gong in a three-way tie last season, but there was no sharing for Kiel; the former Brisbane and Hawthorn rookie polling 21 votes, to finish four clear of nearest rival Cameron Ilett, and five ahead of Sharks teammate Jason Burge.
NT on-baller Ilett was leading after Round 19, but Kiel polled six votes to llett’s none in the closing four rounds to take out the umpires’ pick as the League’s MVP, and go some way towards easing the pain of the Sharks’ Preliminary Final exit.
Aspley’s Cheynee Stiller, reigning champion Tom Salter from Redland, and Morningside veteran Paul Shelton shared fourth, finishing tied on 14 votes, one vote ahead of Broadbeach’s Ryan Pantic (seventh), with Brisbane’s Jordan Lisle (12 votes), the Cats’ Mitch Brewer (11), and Gold Coast youngster Jack Martin (11), rounding out the top ten.
There was no clear favourite heading into the count, and the polling was tight, as expected, all night.
But as Kiel surged, so did the NT Thunder captain, Ilett amassing 15 votes between rounds 5-15, to hit the front.
With three rounds remaining llett held the ascendancy by a single vote, but the Thunder’s form faded in the last three weeks of the season, and Kiel looked a safe bet to poll in at least two of the last three rounds.
As it happened, Kiel finished with three two-vote games – against Eastlake, NT, and Redland – while Ilett went empty-handed, and the 25-year- old Shark took home the prize.
OTHER AWARDS
Former Lion Cheynee Stiller took out the NEAFL coaches and officials’ choice as the Syd Guilford Trophy winner.
Stiller was the runaway victor, polling 45 votes, to finish well clear of Southport spearhead Josh Baxter (24), Ilett (20), and NT full-forward Darren Ewing (19).
Morningside youngster Josh Smith couldn’t kick
a late goal to send his side’s elimination final
with Redland into extra time, but he did win the NAB Rising Star award, polling 40 votes to finish just ahead of draft hopeful Isaac Conway (32), Panthers teammate Ryley Buntain (27), and mop- haired Aspley forward James Nelis (21).
NT sharpshooter Darren Ewing went one better than last year’s second place, taking out the Ray Hughson Medal as the League’s leading goal- kicker in the home-and-away season with 94 majors.
Aspley’s turnaround from ninth place last year to Grand Finalists was recognised with the Hornets’ naming as the Alpha Sport Club of the Year, while Hornets mentor John Blair was named the NEAFL’s best coach.
Aspley’s Liam Dawson and Yeronga’s Kate Lutkins were feted as the state’s only All Australians, while Sam Michael and Fraser Thurlow also did well on a representative level; claiming the Zane Taylor and Sam Gilbert Medals for their strong displays in the senior and U22 clashes with South Australia in May.
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Kiel was sitting on just two votes after eight rounds, but he kick-started his run of votes in 14 rounds with three against Mt Gravatt in Round 9, before two more best-afield showings against Morningside (Round 12), and Labrador (Round 14).
GROGAN MEDAL AWARDS NIGHT