Glenelg midfielder Matthew Snook named Jack Oatey Medallist in win over Port Adelaide
Glenelg onballer Matthew Snook never thought he would be a premiership player, let alone take home the game’s individual prize for best player in a grand final.
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Putting Matthew Snook’s name on the Jack Oatey Medal defined more than just a best-on-ground performance in Glenelg’s victory over Port Adelaide in the SANFL grand final at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
There have been few more loyal servants for the Tigers over years of frustration when the club finished closer to the bottom than top more often than not.
Snook will never be known for being flashy. The onballer is a workhorse, brave and committed, and always refusing to take a backward step in his desperate endeavour to win possession.
His performance on the league’s biggest stage was simply Matthew Snook being Matthew Snook. And typically, he said he just played his role.
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“I’m pretty emotional to be honest,” Snook said as he proudly paraded his medal to the Tigers’ faithful on the lap of honour. “I never thought I would be here.
“The way the boys fought it out, it’s bloody beautiful. This is something I never thought would happen, to be up there with some of the great names in the game is something special.”
Snook amassed a game high 28 disposals and had eight tackles and seven clearances in an incredible response to what he described was a poor game against Adelaide last week.
So disappointed in his performance, Snook admitted to being down on himself for a couple of days before coach Mark Stone restored his belief.
Matty Snook wins the Jack Oatey medal🅠#SANFL #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/rTXU6X3qTp
— Andrew Hayes (@_andrewhayes) September 22, 2019
“Stoney backed me in and started me in the middle (in the grand final),” Snook said. “I’m happy he gave me that chance.
“He has been professional and the boys have brought in, it is special. It has happened sooner than we thought, but you take these moments and we grabbed it with both hands.
“Stoney is incredible, the time he puts in behind the scene. He is a wizard, a great coach.”