TUMBY Bay full forward Chris Prime has won his second Mail Medal in as many years after taking out the award from fellow team-mate Paul Jefferson at Monday night’s Great Flinders Mail Medal count.
The count was hosted by United Yeelanna at the Karkoo Hall with a good crowd and representation from all clubs in attendance, with Martin Leslie providing an entertaining guest speaker’s role.
Prime entered the count as one of the favourites after having another outstanding year with the Blues, finishing the minor round with 121 goals.
He finished the voting strongly to poll 29 votes, picking up best on ground votes in two of the last three minor round games to overtake Lock playing coach Gavin Griffiths, who had jumped to a surprised lead early in the count after some startling early season performances.
Jefferson also finished voting strongly to finish runner-up to his Blues team-mate with 25 votes, with Griffiths finishing the count in third position on 24 votes.
Prime was present at the count, and thanked his Blues team-mates and his family for supporting him throughout the season, and was humble and shocked by his second medal in a row.
The full forward moved to the Blues at the start of the 2007 season to finish his career and has enjoyed amazing success, and shows no signs of slowing down.
He kicked 150 goals in 2007, and has so far amassed another impressive tally of 129 goals this year.
Runner-up Paul Jefferson capped off a solid season in the minor round, taking out the Best Player in Association Games, and also winning the Brenton Rehn Memorial Player of the Year Trophy.
Griffiths was outstanding in finishing third after missing a number of games in the middle of the season, and also absent due to injury towards the end of the minor round.
In a good night for the Blues, youngster Brock Birkin won the best under 21 and best under 18 awards, and David Butler won the reserves medal with 15 votes after playing just six minor round games.
Team-mate Andy Allen finished second, just one vote behind Butler, with Ramblers’ Craig Povey and Cougars’ Vinnie Phelps tying for third place.
Tumby Bay youngster Daniel Lockwood took out the trophy for the best under 17 at association level after impressive performances in his inter-league matches.
Ramblers star Trent Starke won the colts medal with 23 votes from Max Baldiserra (Eyre United) on 20 votes, and Lock young gun Zeik Kay finished third on 18 votes.
Kay took out the best association player in the under 15s for his outstanding performances during the season at association level.
Ramblers’ Jack Haarsma won the under 13s, polling an impressive 43 votes out of a maximum of 45, to win over Cougars’ Lochie Paech on 32 votes.
Eyre United’s Jack Jacobs finished third on 31 votes.
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