VAFA: Preston Bullants midfielder Sean Calcedo crowned Division 1 best and fairest

GEORGE Wakim had an inkling Sean Calcedo would have a few votes to his name by the midway point of the VAFA campaign. On Tuesday, the Preston Bullants coach was proven right.

Sean Calcedo of the Bullants goes to ground at a centre bounce with Jonathan Adams of Therry Penola during the VAFA football match between Therry Penola v Preston Bullants played at Oak Park on Saturday 11th August, 2018.

GEORGE Wakim had an inkling Sean Calcedo would have a few votes to his name by the midway point of the VAFA campaign.

The Preston Bullants coach pulled Calcedo aside before one match, reminding him to stay in the umpires’ good books for the rest of the Division 1 season.

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As Wakim recalls, Calcedo laughed off the remark and resisted his efforts to make him listen to the vote count, which was broadcast live on radio, on Tuesday.

After finishing third last year, four votes behind his brother Dean, Sean polled 29 votes to be recognised as the LS Pepper medallist for 2018.

“I said that to Sean, about half way through the year …‘don’t argue with the umpires, just keep doing what you are doing and you will be a chance to win this’,” Wakim said.

Calcedo enjoyed a purple patch in the middle of the campaign, adjudged best afield seven times in eight matches between rounds 5-12.

Sean Calcedo displays his tenacious approach, diving head first at the footy against Therry Penola.

He finished five votes clear of Oakleigh’s James Hunt, with his Krushers teammate Aaron Cloke a further vote back in third.

Sean’s maiden victory took the Calcedo’s tally of VAFA best and fairest awards to four, with Dean’s talent recognised three times previously.

“They are pretty good. They have been pretty good for a long time too,” Wakim said. “They’ve walked away from a fair bit of money.”

Sean has averaged better than a goal a game during the past three seasons and booted 21 majors in 18 games from midfield this year.

Wakim said the tenacious on-baller’s professionalism had paid dividends after he took extra time to manage niggling injuries brought on by his relentless approach.

“Maybe he’d spend that little bit extra time before training getting a rub for a bit longer,” he said.

“I’d always crack the s***s with him about it and say ‘come on mate, get on the track and stop milking it’.

“It was one of the first things he told me when I spoke to him (after the count).”

CALCEDO TWINS’ BEST AND FAIRESTS

Sean — Division 1 (2018)

Dean — Division 1 (2017), Division 2 (2015), Under-19 section (2010)

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