Noble Park champion Kyle Martin win his ninth best and fairest in 10 years

MR Medals: Noble Park champion and former Collingwood player Kyle Martin lands his ninth best and fairest award in 10 years.

Kyle Martin takes a kick against Balwyn this year.

KYLE Martin has done it again.

A day after Noble Park announced he had re-signed for 2018, the Bulls champion won his fifth club best and fairest, the Peter Reece Medal.

It was his ninth best and fairest in 10 years, a remarkable run that started at Haileybury College in 2008.

In his latest triumph, Martin, 27, polled 31 votes to defeat Jackson Sketcher (28), who has also recommitted for next season, and captain Sam Monaghan (21).

Forward Ziggie Alwan was fourth with 18.

It was Martin’s third consecutive Peter Reece Medal, and he also won the award in 2009 and 2011.

He also took the top trophy at VFL club Frankston in 2012 and at Collingwood VFL in 2013 and 14.

As coach Mick Fogarty said: “What a star.’’

Kyle Martin with Peter Reece at last Friday night’s presentation: Picture: Jenny Quaife

Martin played six AFL games for the Maggies, but showed his back to league football at the end of 2014, saying he was no longer enjoying it.

He was disillusioned when told he would again be on the rookie list.

“It was a tough decision to make but I weighed up all the options I had in front of me and decided working and playing at Noble Park would make me the happiest,’’ he told Leader early in 2015.

“I was offered a rookie-list contract.

“Obviously there were options to have a look elsewhere. In talking to my manager there wasn’t a whole lot of interest and I sort of decided if there wasn’t a primary-list spot it would be tough to go on a rookie list for a third year.

“It was partly financial but there were a lot mental things with it, just having security and, you know, being on the list and being ready and available to play … waiting for something to happen to you, waiting for the door to open. Sometimes that door might never open. It’s tough, mentally. It can get you down.

“It was also about being able to be myself again, express myself. I have a serious side but I’m a jovial sort of person and sometimes they don’t fit very well into the AFL mound.’’

He added: “Sometimes when you’re not getting the reward for your hard work you can go off the track a little bit, lose your way. In saying that it was also one of the best experiences of my life and I would never change it for anything.’’

Kyle Martin and Dane Swan at a Collingwood training session in 2014.

This year Martin was selected in the Eastern league Division 1 team of the year and polled 14 votes to finish fifth in the Chandler Medal.

Monaghan was named Noble Park’s most versatile player, Alwan most consistent and Brett Dore most determined.

In the reserves, Dylan Jacotine and Anthony Marson shared the Paul “Smiley’’ Brightman Medal as best and fairest.

Mitch Anderson (most versatile), Ryan Odell (most determined) and John Walker (most dependable) were also recognised.

Ben Marson won the Under 19s best and fairest, the David Spence Medal, from Lachie Marolla and Lachie McDonnell. Tristian Brunning was most consistent and Frank Mitropolous most inspirational.

Perpetual award winners were Ben Humphris (Kevin Meade Players’ Appreciation Award), Bruce Sjostrom (President’s Award, Jack Johnson), John Sherry (Peter Marshall Best Clubman Award), Lachlan Quaife (David Jones Memorial), Lachlan Marolla (Val McInerney) and Jordan Marson (Peter Ross Memorial).