EFL 2019: Matthew Mariani achieves legend status in Eastern Football League
East Burwood star Matthew Mariani made it three leagues medals in six years when he was named the Stephen Jones medallist as the Division 4 best and fairest, joining a revered group in the EFL.
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East Burwood star Matthew Mariani has long been a champion of the Eastern Football League.
But he elevated himself to legendary status of the competition on Wednesday night after taking home the Stephen Jones Medal as the Division 4 best and fairest.
It was Mariani’s third league gong to go with the 2014 and 2016 Paul Edie Medals in the third-tier competition.
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The strong-bodied midfielder polled 21 votes by Round 9 and collected another seven in the second half of the season.
He missed the final two games through injury to finish with 28 votes.
Mariani said he was only aware of his legendary status, which is achieved by winning three senior competition best and fairest awards, when he checked the league website.
He joins a revered group, including Ryan Mullett, Bernie Dinneen, Chris Annakis and Gary and Joel Galvin, as the 15th legend of the competition.
“I feel privileged to be honest. I was reading up on it and there hasn’t been that many players in that group,” Mariani said.
“There are that many players that are quality players in the EFL — it’s such a high standard — it made me feel unreal.
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“I’m lost for words. To be up there with those sorts of players, it’s kind of like a dream come true.
“They’re the kind of players I look up to so to be up there with them is an honour.”
Mariani is only 26 and could yet collect a couple more league medals before his career is finished.
“That’s what I’ll be striving for,” he said.
“I’m a very competitive person so I’m always striving to be better and do better.
“I would have thought I might have a couple more years left in me to have a bit of a run around.”
Mariani is a gym enthusiast and has also competed as a body builder.
He said attention to his body and diet had allowed him to achieve sustained success, also winning a premiership at Whitehorse Pioneers last year.
“(It’s) just the drive to be better and really looking after myself when it comes to my rehab and everything I do outside of football, which is my training and obviously my gym work,” he said.
“It’s pretty much my lifestyle really.”
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