IT was a historic W.J. Lewis Medal count in Ararat, with Ararat Eagles tall utility, Jayden Wright, winning the 2023 Mininera and District Football League (MDFL) senior best and fairest to go back-to-back on Monday night.

The 22-year-old polled 27 votes to finish four ahead of Tatyoon’s Anthony Rosato.

After six rounds, Wright had polled 12 votes and was equal leader alongside Wickliffe-Lake Bolac’s Lachlan reilly, with Hawkesdale-Macarthur’s Ollie Wortley notching up 11 votes just past the halfway point of the count to be the standout local.

Wright had 22 votes up to round 13, but Rosato closed the gap in the second half of the season with just one vote separating the pair going into the final round.

The Ararat player then polled the maximum three votes in the final game to claim victory.

Wright said he wasn’t expecting to be in the mix at all at this year’s vote count.

“To be completely honest, I didn’t really see myself in the running,” he said.

“I thought Tank (Rosato) had a good season and Lachlan Reilly, they both had standout seasons and I thought they would be the two sure things, but managed to get a few more votes along the way.”

It wasn’t all smooth sailing though, with Wright plugging holes across the ground during 2023.

“I hurt my ankle early on, but it didn’t really hinder me too much,” he said.

“Probably the biggest thing was we picked up a new ruckman, which gave me a bit of freedom and versatility elsewhere, and I think trying to find my role in the team throughout multiple positions was one of the biggest things for me.

“I don’t want to be a one-role player, I want to be able to go anywhere and be influential for the team.”

With back-to-back league medals now in his cabinet, it remains to be seen whether Wright will suit up for the Ararat team once again, or if he will look to step up the standard he plays in 2024.

“Not 100 per cent sure, I definitely love being around the club here at the Ararat Eagles, but I think for the best of my football, it might pay dues to take off and play a better standard, but at this point I have anything set in stone yet,” Wright said.

SMW Rovers’ Daniel Mengler topped the reserves best and fairest votes with 30 to win comfortably from Great Western’s Joshua Reid, while Lions youngster, Kaiden Cooper collected the Under-16.5 award ahead of runner-up, Penshurst’s Archie Page.

Wortley’s impressive year with Hawkesdale-Macarthur was capped off, winning the Ruth Brain Memorial Best Under-21 Player in Seniors award.

Glenthompson-Dunkeld’s Paul Phillips was named the junior coach/administrator of the year, with Great Western’s Dale Hurley earning the club umpire of the year award for the season.

Jill Wade won the volunteer of the year award.

The goal kicking awards were also handed out with Rams playing-coach, Tom Waters, finishing the season with 66 majors to win the senior award.

Page bagged 75 goals to see the young Bomber comfortably winning the Under-16.5 award, while Lismore-Derrinallum’s Ryan Jeffrey was the reserves standout with 54.

Tatyoon was named the champion club with 66 points, one ahead of Woorndoo-Mortlake.