EFNL 2023: Noble Park’s Jackson Sketcher wins Sir Gilbert Chandler Medal

He hadn’t won a senior best and fairest until Wednesday night. Now Jackson Sketcher is among a roll-call of Noble Park champions to have taken home the Eastern league’s top honour.

BELIEVE it or not, it’s his first senior best and fairest – anywhere.

And what a way to mark the occasion.

Noble Park’s Jackson Sketcher claimed the Eastern league’s Sir Gilbert Chandler Medal on Wednesday night as the best and fairest in the men’s Premier Division, polling 30 votes – four ahead of East Ringwood’s James Belo.

The right-footer becomes the first Bull to take home the coveted award since Craig Anderson in 2011.

Pipped by a vote for the medal last year despite missing five games, Sketcher’s hold on this year’s honour looked ominous as he pushed ahead by three votes after Round 16.

Some 13 years into a senior career which has taken the 31-year-old to the dizzying heights of state leagues, premierships – and a reality television stint on ‘The Recruit’ – the honour of an elusive medal wasn’t lost on the quick-moving Bull.

Jackson Sketcher is Noble Park’s first Chandler Medal winner in more than a decade. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“Playing with Kyle Martin doesn’t really help that either,” Sketcher laughed, highlighting the brilliant Bull’s run of seven consecutive best and fairests at the club.

“There’s a first for everything, but it’s certainly not what you play footy for … it’s a good feather in the cap no matter what standard it is.

“That box is ticked and hopefully I’ve got a few more (years) left, and obviously premierships are what you play for.”

Dealt a hammer blow on the eve of this season after great mate Martin was ruled out with an ACL injury, reinventing his game as an inside midfielder in the absence of his co-captain was a challenge Sketcher had to meet.

“I was probably a little bit more consistent this year because you get more looks without Kyle, but I was probably a lot more inside this year, whereas when I’m at my best I’m getting it on the outside when Kyle’s feeding it to me,” he said.

“I had to adjust a bit more without Kyle – I don’t think I was as influential as what I can be on the outside, but you’ve just got to roll with what you’ve got.

“I was a bit more banged-up this year as well.”

Jackson Sketcher (left) with fellow Bull and under-19.5 best and fairest Samuel Pascuzzi. Picture: Noble Park FC

The former Sandringham Dragon tied for the Morrish Medal in 2010 as the best and fairest in the TAC Cup (now the Coates Talent League).

State league stops at the Box Hill Hawks, Frankston, Perth and Bendigo Gold followed, before his return to Noble Park in 2015 and appearance on ‘The Recruit’ in ‘16.

A brief comeback at Frankston later that year had him in draft discussions after lighting it up across half-back, but he returned to Noble Park in 2017.

He hasn’t looked back, winning a premiership with the club in 2022 before earning a fifth team-of-the-year gong on Wednesday night.

Sketcher said joining the company of Noble Park champions Denis Knight (2003), Benn Logan (2004) and Craig Anderson (2007, 2011) as a Chandler medallist was the most humbling aspect of his crowning.

Sketcher played a key role in Noble Park’s 2022 flag. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“I remember I used to always try chasing ‘Ando’ (Craig Anderson) in pre-season … standing next to those guys as an 18-year-old when I first got to the club, he was in his prime back then and you look up to those guys,” Sketcher said.

“I used to work with Denis Knight who obviously won one, and Benny Logan who I used to go and watch when I was a young fella – my old man used to take me to Noble to go and watch them.

“Being in their company now, it’s pretty special.”

Sketcher is yet to commit to Noble Park for next season.

“There’s a lot of rumours this time of year,” Sketcher laughed.

“I’m more than likely going to be there again … I’ve got a few decisions to weigh up.”

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It was an almighty shoo-in from the Eastern Devils’ Olivia Aing for the Premier Division women’s honour – claiming the medal with 28 votes – denying South Croydon’s Taylah Black a second-consecutive prize, who finished runner-up on 19.

Aing raced to 15 votes from her first five matches – all best-on-ground performances – before an 11-vote stranglehold on the lead after Round 10.

Maddison Blackburn (Division 1, Beaconsfield), Mia Chadwick (Division 2, Blackburn), Brooke Slaney (Division 3, Kilsyth) and Nicole Akers (Mitcham, Division 4) were also winners across the senior women’s competitions.

Eastern Devils’ Olivia Aing was a runaway winner of the Premier senior women’s award.

Meanwhile, Mooroolbark’s Austin Smith (Division 1), Boronia’s Mitch Mellis (Division 2), Donvale’s James Rausa (Division 3) and Kilsyth’s Jayden Weichard (Division 4) took out their division’s respective best and fairest medals.

It’s a second crown in three seasons for Austin Smith, who also won the Kenneth Wright Medal in 2021. Finishing on 22 votes, the Mooroolbark midfielder edged South Belgrave captain Tim Smith by the barest of margins on Wednesday night.

Austin Smith has won a second Division 1 medal. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Mellis adds another medal to his growing collection, polling 23 votes for the Paul Edie Medal – four ahead of joint runners-up, Adam Booth (Mulgrave) and Nathan Mullenger-McHugh (Heathmont).

The 22-year-old was one of Boronia’s best in its Division 2 premiership victory last weekend.

He took in three league best and fairest awards as a junior alongside three at the Hawks, before one with the Eastern Ranges in 2018.

Donvale skipper James Rausa completed a trifecta of awards this season, also leading his side to the Division 3 premiership and claiming the best-on-ground medal. He finished on 26 votes for the Division 3 gong – the Perc James Medal – three ahead of two-time Chandler medallist, Blake Pearson (Oakleigh District).

Kilsyth’s Jayden Weichard was a runaway winner of the Stephen Jones Medal, with the midfielder romping to 21 votes, seven ahead of Surrey Park’s Tom Smith who claimed last year’s award.