Aberfeldie star Nick Meese claims EDFL Premier Division Reynolds Medal
Aberfeldie’s Reynolds Medal winner, Nick Meese reveals how a shock diagnosis last year became a blessing in disguise. See all the EDFL medal winners.
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Aberfeldie’s Nick Meese has revealed a shock health battle in the wake of his Reynolds Medal win.
The superstar big man was crowned the EDFL Premier Division’s best-and-fairest on Thursday night, capping a superb return to local footy following a decorated VFL career.
However, it was very nearly derailed by a diabetes diagnosis.
Meese revealed the cancelled 2020 season was a blessing in disguise, allowing him to adjust to his condition and prepare for a return to play.
“It was a bit rocky at the start, I became Type 1 out of the blue, so I’ve never played footy as a diabetic before,” he said.
“The year off certainly helped me because I didn’t know left or right of what I was doing with my body and it gave me the chance to ease into it.
“I was quite nervous but with the help of my specialist, after the praccies and about Round 1, it took a few games to tweak my injections and I felt as good as gold.
“When my body changed I thought this was the end of footy but I’m actually carrying less weight than when I was in the VFL.
“I’m not necessarily fitter but I eat a lot better, I prepare a lot better because that’s what it has to be now, so what I thought was a curse may become a blessing in some ways.”
Meese polled 14 votes to claim the competition’s highest individual honour in a thriller, edging Maribyrnong Park’s Tom Baravi by one vote.
Baravi was leading the count heading into the final round of the season and earned one vote in the Lions’ win over Essendon Doutta Stars, giving him a two-vote buffer.
However, the six-time VFL Team of the Year ruckman claimed three votes in Abers’ win over Avondale Heights to leapfrog his rival and claim the medal.
Aberfeldie teammate Matthew Williamson, Heights Brad Robb and Premier Division’s leading goalkicker Matthew Watson of Pascoe Vale tied for third on 11 votes.
Meese said he was pleased with his first season at Clifton Park, determined to impress his old and new teammates.
“I thought I had a good season, happy with the way I went about it but you don’t expect this sort of stuff,” he said.
“I was always aligned with West Preston, my junior club, but Peter Faulks and Adam Potter were at Abers so I had a few Williamstown connections.
“It felt like a good fit, close to home, a great reputation as a club and I already had connections – I like that – but still a lot of new faces so I was eager to do well.”
Aberfeldie sat third, just a game behind Strathmore and Keilor, when the local footy season was called off.
EDFL: EAST KEILOR CHANGES PRESIDENT, COACH, CAPTAIN
LEADER: GET YOUR ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTY NEWS HERE
NAB: PRESPAKIS MAKES HISTORY, MORRISH MEDAL TIE
Potter has since departed and Meese’s Seagulls captain Adam Marcon has been appointed coach for 2022.
The pair will form one of the deadliest midfield tandems in Premier Division with Meese confirming he was planning to play on.
“I’ll sit down and talk to the club soon but I think I’ll give it another run,” he said.
“With young Adam Marcon, my little cousin and captain at Williamstown, signing on I think it will be a nice way to continue on.”
MEESE LEGEND GROWS WITH REYNOLDS MEDAL
Superstar ruckman Nick Meese’s trophy-laden mantelpiece has a new addition.
The Aberfeldie big man capped his full-time return to local footy this season with the Essendon District Premier Division’s highest honour on Thursday night, the Reynolds Medal.
The VFL premiership player polled three votes in the final match of the season to pip Maribyrnong Park’s Tom Baravi by a single vote.
Baravi polled one vote in the final game to finish on 13 votes but was dramatically overtaken as Meese was named best-on-ground in the Round 12 win over Avondale Heights to jump to 14 votes.
Abers teammate Matt Williamson, Heights’ Brad Robb and Pascoe Vale’s Matthew Watson finished third on 11 votes.
Watson also took home the league goalkicking award after booting 40 majors.
Meese was dominant as Aberfeldie finished the season in third, just a game behind Strathmore and Keilor, earning a mention in the best in 10 of 12 games and named first ruck in the Team of the Year.
He returned to local footy after 150 VFL games, the 2015 VFL premiership with Williamstown and six Team of the Year honours.
Hillside’s Emily Paterno and Westmeadows’ Gemma Wright shared the Premier Division Women’s league best-and-fairest.
Aberfeldie’s Jamie Hinton tied for the Premier Division Under-18 league medal with Keilor’s Daniel Ruscigno, while Strathmore’s Noah Smallcombe won the reserves medal.
The EDFL wrapped up its awards nights after revealing each competition’s league best-and-fairests over the past week.
EDFL: EAST KEILOR CHANGES PRESIDENT, COACH, CAPTAIN
LEADER: GET YOUR ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTY NEWS HERE
NAB: PRESPAKIS MAKES HISTORY, MORRISH MEDAL TIE
Airport West’s Nikola Hrkac claimed an upset win in the Division 1 Hutchison Medal, edging out East Keilor’s Victor Micallef.
The Eagles big man polled 15 votes to pip star midfield Micallef on 13, while Roxburgh Park’s Jack Elliott finished third on 10 votes.
It was the only award the all-conquering Cougars didn’t win after dominating the Team of the Year with eight selections, Dion Hill claiming the league goalkicking with 56 majors and Pat Christofi named Coach of the Year.
Meanwhile, in Division 2 Beven Newell took home the league best-and-fairest, holding off East Sunbury’s Kamen Oglivie in second and Fog teammate Braden Padmore in third.
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