Champion on-ballers Ross Young and Adam Bentick share VAFA best and fairest after drama-packed count

UNIVERSITY Blues coach Quinton Gleeson nearly cost his star midfielder Ross Young another Woodrow medal.

VAFA football: St Bernard's V University Blues. University Blues coach Quinton Gleeson. Picture: Josie Hayden

UNIVERSITY Blues coach Quinton Gleeson almost cost his star midfielder Ross Young another Woodrow Medal.

Young and St Bernard’s vice-captain Adam Bentick shared the prize for the best and fairest player in the Victorian Amateur Football Association at the league’s awards night last Monday.

Bentick logged five best-on-ground performances in the first eight rounds, and sat clear of the pack on 19 votes after 12 games.

Young, who was seven votes behind, came home strongly in the final six rounds to draw equal with the St Bernard’s star in Round 17 after polling three votes against Old Scotch.

But Gleeson’s decision to rest his blue chip midfielder in the final round to freshen him up for finals cost Young an outright shot at the medal.

The Blues coach has history denying his former teammate the league’s top individual award.

Gleeson captained Uni Blues to a VAFA A Grade premiership in 2004, and claimed the Woodrow Medal in the same season, pipping his teammate Young.

“In 2004, he probably should have won that medal, but I pinched it off him,” Gleeson quipped. “I think he’s played three years of footy at Uni Blues in the last 12 years and (if he wins this year) he’s won all three (club best and fairest awards — 2004, 2013, 2015), and last year he won Richmond’s (Guinane Medal).”

Young has also claimed a Sandover Medal (2009) and two club championships at WAFL club Perth (2009 and 2011).

Old Carey’s Cameron Howat polled 18 votes to finish one behind the joint winners.

Young said he was thrilled to share the medal with his former Carlton teammate.

“It’s certainly a huge honour to win the Woodrow Medal, and it’s more satisfying to win it with Adam,” he said.

“I had a slow preseason but worked into the year and felt I came home all right.

“I didn’t think I was a chance, I thought Adam would win it by a mile.

“It’s certainly a huge honour.”

Old Trinity’s Gabe Hamilton and Uni Blues pair Jeremy Mugavin and Marshall Rippon rounded out the top six.

Last year’s Woodrow Medallist Brendan Iezzi collected 12 votes before a knee injury ended his year in Round 8.

Uni Blues held their best and fairest count on Friday night (after deadline), with Young a hot favourite to add another medal to his collection.

Meanwhile, University Blacks is searching for a new coach after Luke O’Connell decided not to continue in 2016.