Pines midfield star Paul ‘Chewy’ Scanlon wins Peninsula league medal on eve of 40th birthday
TWO weeks shy of his 40th birthday, Pines midfielder Paul “Chewy’’ Scanlon has won the Peninsula league’s best and fairest award, the EV Shade Medal.
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TWO weeks shy of his 40th birthday, Pines midfielder Paul “Chewy’’ Scanlon has won the Peninsula league’s best and fairest award, the EV Shade Medal.
“Personally, I thought I had a good year…but I didn’t think I’d win it, to be honest,’’ Scanlon said after polling 24 votes, one more than Bonbeach ruckman Dylan Jones, in the count at Mornington racecourse on Monday night.
“I wasn’t sure if they go for the old blokes anymore.’’
It was almost back-to-back medals for Scanlon, who went within a vote of winning the Shade Medal last year, despite being hindered by osteitis pubis.
He said his 2017 season was more consistent, due to being able to manage his body.
“It’s about knowing your body,’’ he said.
“(Pines coach) Paddy (Swayn) has been really good with me. I just tell him where I’m at during the week and as long as I’m getting a kick on the weekend and doing my bit for the team they can’t really say anything can they?’’
Scanlon has had a long, successful and interesting career since playing his first senior game at Bundoora as a 19-year-old.
“I was a bit of late bloomer to be honest,’’ he said.
“A lot of my mates went on and played AFL like (Blake) Caracella, (Daniel) Harford. My second cousin is Paul Licuria. All that crew I grew up with went on. I didn’t take footy too seriously. I was more into tennis and a bit of cricket.’’
In his early 20s, Scanlon tried his luck in the VFL with Preston Bullants.
“I was there for about five years,’’ he said.
“Barry Mitchell was my coach at the time…I broke my leg real bad and we had a bit of a conversation and he said, ‘mate, if I was you I’d go and play some local footy and get some money’. That’s how I ended up at Seymour.’’
Scanlon found his way to Pines two years ago and has enjoyed his time there.
He said he’s never seriously considered retirement and plans to play on for as long as he can.
“Nah, I love it, mate. I love the camaraderie, I love all the boys,’’ he said.
“I’m glad I’ve ended up at the Pines, I’ll probably finish up here. I’m going to definitely play next year. I’ve actually really loved this club, it’s one of the better clubs I’ve played at in my career.’’
Scanlon finished three votes ahead of Trent Hotton in the 2007 Goulburn Valley league medal when playing with Seymour – but he was ineligible after being suspended during the season.
“Oh well we won the flag that year so it didn’t matter too much,’’ he said.
As for his nickname, Chewy says he’s had it for as long as he can remember.
“The only ones who call me Paul are my missus and my mum to be honest,’’ he said.
“Not even school teachers used to call me Paul. Everyone calls me Chewy. It’s a nickname I’ve had all my life. That’s pretty much it.’’
Meanwhile, Frankston Bombers player Jason Kingsbury won the Nepean league’s George Osborne Medal, polling 22 votes, one more than Sorrento forward Nick Corp.
A mighty cheer went up from the Bombers’ table when Kingsbury, 23, won the medal. And his acceptance speech was colourful and entertaining.
Frankston coach Beau Muston said Kingsbury was an underrated “star’’ who deserved the league medal.
“He’s been one of the most underrated players in the competition for a long period of time and I think that was shown by not being selected in the team of the year – again,’’ Muston said. “It’s really good recognition for him. A lot of people may not even know his name, but internally he’s a leader of our group with the way that he goes about it. He well and truly deserves it, he’s had a sensational year.’’
EV Shade Medal: Paul Scanlon (Pines) 24 votes. Dylan Jones (Bonbeach) 23, Shane McDonald (Bonbeach) 21, Damian Rayson (Seaford) 21.
George Osborne Medal: Jason Kingsbury (Frankston Bombers) 22 votes, Nick Corp (Sorrento) 21, Shaun Foster (Hastings), Chris Irving (Red Hill), Sean Downie (Rosebud) 18.
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