Narre Warren star Brad Scalzo won the 2008 Norm Walker Medal last week as the Casey Cardinia league’s fairest and best player. 22208 Picture: Stewart Chambers.By Brad Kingsbury
NARRE Warren wingman Brad Scalzo took out the Norm Walker Medal last week for the Casey Cardinia league’s fairest and best player for 2008.
Scalzo led the count from round three onwards, but star Keysborough midfielder Shaun Daly drew level with one round left.
Daly did not poll in the last round, while Scalzo scored two votes against Cranbourne to finish the count on 22 and take home the prize.
Doveton dynamo Ryan Hendy was one vote behind Daly, but was ineligible after being suspended for a match during the season.
Hendy’s talented team-mate Michael Henry and Pakenham playmaker Jared Goldsack were next in line on 18 votes each.
Scalzo, 20, transferred to the Magpies after ditching the Casey Scorpions last season.
“I love it at Narre. I had a few tries (to go higher) and I got nowhere and wasn’t enjoying it at all,” Scalzo said.
“Narre took me with open arms and gave me encouragement and time to get myself going again. We’re a pretty tight group,” he said.
It was Scalzo’s second best and fairest, adding to a trophy he won in the under-14s and he said that it was unexpected given the quality of his Narre Warren team-mates.
Having praised coach Matt Shinners Scalzo singled out Magpies captain Glenn Hamilton for special mention afterwards, saying his influence had been massive.
All-Australian interleague star Luke Walker was the surprise of the night, finishing well down the list despite securing the MVP award, which the coaches vote on.
Devon Meadows youngster Tommy Hayes won the Bill Williamson Medal for the reserves ahead of Hampton Park’s Michael O’Brien and Scott Mather from Beaconsfield.
Pakenham’s Chris Cardona and Doveton’s Tom Crameri shared the George Gilmour Medal for the under-18s best and fairest player, while Berwick 16-year-old Mark Pavlovic claimed the under-18 Colts’ best and fairest award.
