By BRAD McGRATH
CONSISTENT midfielder Tim McGenniss has taken out the Dandenong Stingrays’ Justin Leppitsch best and fairest award.
The dashing ball-winner was given the nod from co-captain Jason Pongracic and much-improved Robert Hill at their presentation night at Dingley International Hotel on October 5.
McGenniss, 18, established himself as one of the Stingrays’ prime movers this season with his strength in the air, run and carry and precise foot skills putting him in the mix to be drafted later this year.
The Frankston YCW youngster polled in nine out of 18 games for a total of 107 votes to defeat the tough Pongracic by 25 votes.
Pongracic played just 11 games for the Stingrays as he juggled AIS and Vic Country duties along with injuries but it was enough for him to awarded the Chris Newman runner-up award.
Hill, who also finished third in the Stingrays’ best and fairest last year, polled 77 votes from 13 games to win the Adam Ramanauskas award after receiving 86 votes from 15 TAC Cup games the previous season.
Key forward-defender Matt Rennie won Graeme Yeats’ Coaches Award for dedication and selflessness. Rennie played the role of a true utility last season, collecting 168 contested possessions for the year, as well as taking the most contested marks for the club.
Small forward Clayton McCartney won the Stephen Milne Goal-kicking Trophy with 23 majors from Rennie, who booted 22.
McCartney has caught the eye of a number of AFL clubs despite not being eligible to be drafted until next season, the speedy small coming second in goal assists behind potential No. 1 draft pick Lachie Whitfield.
Ryan Marks-Logan was awarded the Most Improved Player after cementing himself in the side on the back of numerous individual match-winning acts throughout the season.
Ryan Morrison was awarded the Most Dedicated Trophy through his diligence, dedication and perseverance to games, training and off-field workloads.
Nathan Foote won the inaugural Young Gun Award which recognises a bottom-aged player who contributed well above expectations. Foote played 18 of a possible 19 games as a hard-nosed small back pocket.
Talented 18-year-old ruckman Lewis Pierce won the trainers award for his efforts to overcome his long battle with knee tendonitis and growing issues. Pierce went to great lengths to get his body right.
The Stingrays recognised long-serving administrator Bev Chalmers with the club person of the year award. Two other Stingrays’ staff were recognised for 20 years of service to the club — Bob Riddle and Peter Bainbridge.
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