Casye Scorpions midfielder Steven Harrison, middle, won his fifth Gardner-Clark Medal on Friday night from, left, captain Nigel Carmody and, right, Kyle Matthews. By Marc McGowan
STEVEN Harrison’s legendary status at the Casey Scorpions was sealed on Friday night when the 27-year-old midfielder won a record fifth Gardner-Clark Medal at the club’s best and fairest presentation at Castello’s, Berwick Springs.
Scorpions captain and Harrison’s best friend Nigel Carmody was runner-up, with livewire wingman Kyle Matthews in third place.
Harrison’s triumph comes after he injured his posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) for a second time last season, leaving him considering him retirement from the Victorian Football League.
His wife of three years Michelle also had the couple’s first baby, Indiana Jade, in February, and his business interests were continuing to keep him busy.
But outgoing Casey coach Peter Banfield convinced him to play on and Harrison, who grew up in Springvale South and now lives in Keysborough, was thrilled with his year.
“I did my PCL at the start of the year (in 2006), but I only ended up missing four games,” he said moments after his win.
“I was never right and I struggled to run.
“I wasn’t the player I could be and that was really disappointing, so it was good to be back this year and to have a good year.”
Harrison, who played junior football for the Keysborough Parish of the Resurrection Football Club and the Prahran Dragons, averaged a tick under 25 possessions a game this season, predominantly using the handball to create opportunities for his team-mates.
Banfield is a huge admirer of the muscle-bound star’s talents.
“He has a tremendous work rate, he’s very strong over the footy, he’s a one-grab player and has tremendous courage,” Banfield said.
“He’s certainly going to go down as one of the greatest players in the club’s history.”
Harrison played 35 reserves games for the Scorpions before cracking the senior line-up as he watched the likes of Jason Caples, Damian Carroll and Simon Clark enjoy premiership success.
Unfortunately, his career has spanned a lean period for the Scorpions, and that will go down as one of his greatest regrets, alongside not making AFL level.
“I probably got close in 2000 to 2001. I trained with Melbourne and did a pre-season there,” Harrison said.
“In 2001, I was probably having my best year and then did my knee halfway through that year and that probably hurt my chances.”
Harrison’s father John, who was Casey’s chairman of the football executive until resigning last month, is full of pride for his son’s grand achievements.
“He’s true blue, down to earth, loyal, honest, very supportive of his family and friends, he’s well regarded at his work, and really has just got that focus on being a decent person all round in his life,” John said.
“It’s a credit to him that he can win that many best and fairests in the VFL at one club.”
