Lachlan Cassidy claims slice of history with Henderson Medal victory

A best-on-ground performance in the final game of the season secured Sebastopol’s Lachlan Cassidy the BFL Henderson Medal and a slice of history.

Sebastopol's Lachlan Cassidy wins the Henderson Medal.

Sebastopol’s Lachlan Cassidy claimed a slice of history on Monday night, winning the Ballarat Football League’s Henderson Medal by just two votes.

The classy midfielder became the Burras’ first individual winner and broke the club’s 25-year medal drought in a thrilling count.

Cassidy is just the third Sebas player to win the league’s highest individual honour, joining Terry Howard (1979) and Glen Wilkins (1996).

A best-on-ground performance in the final game of the season, a 111-point mauling of Melton South, saw him finish with 16 votes to pip Melton’s Jack Walker.

He goes one better than teammate Tony Lockyer who finished runner-up last season to Sunbury’s Alik Magin.

Cassidy and Lockyer were both named in the BFL Team of the Year, while Jai Harvey was awarded the Goal of the Year.

Having guided North Ballarat to the minor premiership in his debut season in charge, Brendan McCartney was named the Mick Malthouse Medallist as coach of the year as the Roosters dominated the Team of the Year.

Ryan Hobbs, Josh Chatfield, Riley Polkinghorne, Jon O’Brien and Cam McCallum were all recognised for outstanding seasons, while Melton and Ballarat had three representatives each.

Melton South’s Dylan Conway took home the Tony Lockett Medal as the league’s leading goalkicker.

Meanwhile, it was a similar story in the McLean Medal count.

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North Ballarat’s Stacey Matthews claimed the A-Grade netball best-and-fairest in the final match of the season, edging Melton South’s Akira McCormack.

It was the Roosters second straight win after Madison Selmon claimed a shock win in 2019.

Matthews (wing attack) and Selmon (interchange) were two of four Roosters in the Team of the Year, while Melton South had three players included.

Lake Wendoree’s Katie Keighrey was awarded the Coach of the Year award.