Prince Alfred OC’s Jack Trengove wins 2021 Adelaide Footy League division one Keith Sims OAM Medal
Former AFL midfielder Jack Trengove has revealed he now cherishes every moment on the field after claiming the Adelaide Footy League’s top individual honour last night.
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Jack Trengove says the 2021 season is the most enjoyable he’s ever had after claiming the Adelaide Footy League’s top individual honour on Thursday night.
The former Port Adelaide and Melbourne polled 17 votes to win the Keith Sims OAM Medal for division one’s best and fairest.
Trengove entered the count as the hot favourite but it was a tighter than expected race with Tea Tree Gully’s Chad Schoenmakers and Port District’s ineligible Louis Sharrad finishing just three votes behind.
It capped off a brilliant individual year for the 30-year-old 89-game ex-AFL player, who revealed he was reinvigorated this season by the passion to play with mates at PAOC.
“To be honest this year’s been the most enjoyable year of footy I’ve ever had,” Trengove said after accepting the award following Thursday night’s virtual count.
“It’s an absolute dream to finish off and play some footy at Prince Alfred Old Collegians with a lot of old school mates.
“There’s no better club to be at at the moment.
“There were moments there I didn’t think I was going to play footy again so I just cherish every moment that I’m out there now.”
After his first season at the club last year was curtailed by injury, Trengove returned to play every game so far this season for the grand final-bound Old Reds.
The gun onballer’s stellar performances have been a key part in their charge to the minor premiership with 15 wins over the regular season.
PAOC then booked its spot in the division one decider against Payneham Norwood Union this Saturday by beating arch rival St Peter’s Old Collegians in the preliminary final.
“The big focus for us is to finish off really well this Saturday,” Trengove said.
“I really hope that we can do everyone proud this weekend because I believe a lot of people in these four walls deserve some success.
“I know I’ll be doing everything in my power to make sure we have a smile on our face when the final siren goes on Saturday.”
TTG’s Schoenmakers and District’s Sharrad were Trengove closest opponents on Thursday night but it was a remarkably tight count overall.
With two rounds to go just two votes separated the top seven contenders.
Adelaide University midfielder Ben Adams and Goodwood Saints ruckman Tom Carter finished equal third on 13 votes.
They were followed by 2020 winner Nigel Osborn and Trengove’s teammate Lachlan McNamara on 12 votes each.
PAOC and PNU will do battle in the division one grand final this Saturday from 2.30pm at Richmond Oval.
In other medal results on Thursday night, PHOS Camden’s Henry Papatolis smashed the competition to claim the FA Bloch Medal for division two best and fairest.
Papatolis polled 35 votes to finish clear of Broadview’s Jay O’Leary and Glenunga’s Alex Haren on 21.
Another notable result came in the division four count.
Walkerville captain Sean Kuerschner amassed a remarkable 38 votes to win the JW Schulz Medal.
Kuerschner’s huge performance is believed to be one short of the record number of single season votes in league history.
North Haven’s Mark Row took out division three’s GS Heard Medal – the fourth Adelaide Footy League best and fairest medal of his career.
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