VAFA Division 4: Parkside midfielder Marco Creek wins league best and fairest award
BALL magnet Marco Creek’s prolific first senior campaign with Parkside was recognised on Tuesday when he was crowned the OJ Meehan medallist for 2018.
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BALL magnet Marco Creek’s prolific first senior campaign with Parkside was recognised on Tuesday when he was crowned the OJ Meehan medallist for 2018.
The on-baller polled 24 votes to finish one ahead of St Francis Xavier’s Daniel Chin, while his Devils teammates Adam Wells (17 votes) and Isaac Romano (14) were also in the top five of the VAFA Division 4 count.
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Parkside coach Rick Frost said Creek, a product of the club’s junior program, was a focus of heavy attention from opposition teams most weeks.
“I thought he would be up there somewhere,” Frost said.
“He’s really slippery, so he gets the attention of the umpires. He just accumulates big numbers as well.”
Frost said Creek’s workrate separated him from other midfielders in Division 4.
“He just goes and goes and goes,” he said.
“He gets a lot of attention from the opposition, but he just has a hunger to be at his best all the time.
“It’s unmatched in our competition, his hunger to be the best he can be.”
Creek featured in 16 games for the Devils and was named in their best players 10 times.
“It’s a testament to the junior program,” Frost said.
“It’s a terrific program and is establishing really good characters and good footballers.”
The coach also paid tribute to the impact Wells, the club’s captain, had made this season.
Wells led Parkside to promotion from Division 3 and a grand final berth against minor premier North Brunswick.
“At the start of the year we didn’t know who was going to lead the club,” Frost said.
“Adam is not one of those vocal players who says, ‘come around me’.
“But his presence is what it is. He’s very good with one-on-one chats and he just has this presence of courage around the ball. He’s a brilliant player.”
Romano booted 32 goals from 16 games, including a six-goal haul against Masala in Round 4 and five majors against Elsternwick.
“When he’s around the ball he’s just dangerous all the time,” Frost said.
“If he gets 20 possessions, it could be a best on ground performance because he is just so damaging.”
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