What keeps Michael Finn coming back after winning fifth league best-and-fairest

The campaign to name the NFNL Division 1 reserve grade best-and-fairest medal the Michael Finn Medal starts now after the Heidelberg great won for a fourth time.

Michael Finn wins his fourth reserve grade league best-and-fairest.

The campaign to name the NFNL Division 1 reserve grade best-and-fairest medal the Michael Finn Medal starts now.

The Heidelberg great won the competition’s highest individual honour for the fourth time in five years on Wednesday night.

Add it to the senior Division 1 Rosbrook Medal he won in 2011 and Finn is one of the most decorated players in Diamond Valley/Northern league history.

He polled 28 votes to finish ahead of West Preston-Lakeside’s Luke Vincitorio (16 votes) and Tigers teammate Kane Veliou (13).

The Irishman also has a 2006 Southern Division 2 Bennett Medal and an Australian Football International Cup best-and-fairest, not to mention a highly decorated Gaelic career in his homeland.

Asked what keeps him coming back, the 42-year-old said footy kept him young.

“I just love it to be honest,” he said.

“It keeps me young and I get to hang out with a great bunch of lads.

“Everything else I do I’m either a boss or dad or coach so it’s nice to be able to just play and enjoy myself out there.

“I keep it pretty simple, I tap or mark the ball and give it to the speedsters around me and get out of their way.

“I’ll play as long as I possibly can, the body feels pretty good.

“The only reason would be if I’m taking someone’s spot, I think at the moment I’m still relevant and providing enough mentorship and coaching to help the guys out.”

Finn played 15 games this season, helping Heidelberg’s reserves to finish on top of the ladder – losing just one game – and into a second straight grand final.

Finn has three senior Division 1 premiership medals and hopes to add a reserve grade flag to the collection on Saturday.

“It’s been a good year and hopefully we can finish it off, we were a bit unlucky last year but hopefully we can finish it this year,” he said.

However, don’t expect him to hang around long for the celebrations.

Family commitments and a trip to the under-14 national club championships will take priority after the final siren.

“I tend to run off (after games) because after we play I’ve got to go coach football or basketball afterwards,” Finn said.

“The oldest boy is 13, he’s got nationals next week in basketball.

“We’ll play our grand final and then straight in the car and go straight to nationals, it’s all about him this week so hopefully he does well.”

Meanwhile, Hurstbridge dominated the netball best-and-fairest awards on Wednesday night.

The Bridges collected four best-and-fairest medals from the 13 sections, more than any other club.

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Casey Lashford collected the Section 2 medal with 18 votes ahead of teammate Kendra Vann.

Christie Moore won the Section 7 award on 15 votes, Tara Wright was crowned the Section 10 best-and-fairest with 20 votes and Arielle Earps went home with the Section 12 crown, polling 20 votes.

In football awards, Bridges Billy Loustas and Liam Karakaltchev finished second and third in Division 3 Under-19 voting.

And Trent Barbero took home the Division 1 reserve grade goalkicking award with 64 majors.