PENSHURST coach Justin Eales was crowned the Mininera and District Football League's best and fairest on Monday night.
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Eales took home the 2014 WJ Lewis Medal with 23 votes, ahead of runner-up Lachie Reichman (21 votes) from Hawkesdale/Macarthur and Tatyoon's Damian Cameron in third place on 20.
The Bombers' playing coach said he thought he'd had a fairly consistent season, but didn't put any expectation on winning the league's top award.
"I know I had an alright year, but I've played footy for long enough to know that with these things you can never tell how it will pan out," Eales said.
"Umpires sometimes see the game a bit different, so I didn't go in with any big expectations.
"The whole year I thought I was pretty consistent, some games I think were probably better than others but it just goes to show the games I thought were probably my better games, I didn't poll as well and in some of the more quieter ones I got votes.
"I was lucky enough not to miss a game this season through injury or anything like that, I did get sent off once which didn't help, but other than that it was pretty good."
Eales polled the maximum three votes on six occasions during the 16 round season, but didn't take a share of the lead until round 14.
Tatyoon star Damian Cameron was the clubhouse leader for the majority of the count, dominating in his return to the Mininera with best on ground performances in five of the first seven rounds.
Despite missing three weeks of the season due to an overseas holiday, Cameron's blistering start ensured he maintained the top billing past the halfway mark, with challenges coming from Reichman and Southern Eagles' team mate Charles Neild, Pumas' duo Josh Bywater and Luke Thomas, former SM&W Rovers' coach Rhys Cahir and Cameron's offsider Kye Chapple.
Reichman, who was named the MDFL starting ruckman in the interleague fixture, made his move in the middle stage of the season with three consecutive best on ground matches, however when the votes dried up for him and Cameron that's when Eales pounced.
Two votes in the Bombers' final round smashing of Woorndoo/Mortlake ensured Eales the medal.
The 30-year-old, who is a 'born and bred Penshurst boy' said it was a thrill to take out the award while leading his home club.
"I played my juniors at the club, went off to the (North Ballarat) Rebels, played in Warrnambool after that and then Stawell, but it was always a plan to come back eventually," Eales said.
"I think when you are a playing coach, unless you are a full forward or a full back and you can watch the whole ground, it is just too hard to go it alone playing on the ball.
"It is just non-stop for the whole game and I can't take in what is going on around me with match-ups and that sort of stuff. My biggest job when I got to the club was picking two selectors that I trusted, who had a good footy knowledge and the confidence to make moves.
"I've got a few blokes who more or less coach the game during the quarters, I play my game and then we reassess it at the breaks."