BFL awards night: James Darke wins fourth Les Ash Medal

James Darke joined the history books as a four-time winner of the BFNL’s top honour, his coach ranking him among the league and Torquay all-time greats.

Matthew Forrest and Ollie Nash

4 min read

August 19, 2022 - 11:17AM

Geelong Advertiser

Football BFL: Modewarre v Torquay. Torquay 60 James Darke Picture: Mark Wilson

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Torquay superstar James Darke says it’s “humbling” to now be known as a four-time Les Ash medallist.

The Tigers midfielder took out the BFL’s top individual honour on Wednesday night with 27 votes, adding to his bulging trophy cabinet that includes the 2014, 2017 and 2021 medals.

He joins Modewarre’s Josh Finch (2010, ’12, ’13 and ’16) as the only four-time winner of the award in the league’s history.

Darke, who will lead Torquay into a semi-final clash with old rival Barwon Heads on Saturday, said he had not wrapped his head around being known as a four-time winner just yet.

“I try not to come into the nights with any expectation but I guess after you’ve won a few, you get a bit of noise around you,” he said.

“It’s pretty exciting and definitely humbling.”

Entering 2022 as the reigning league best-and-fairest winner, the 27-year-old said his leadership had been an area of focus for him this season.

Torquay's James Darke won his fourth Les Ash Medal as the league's best and fairest. Picture: David Smith

“Just sort of developing into a bit more of a leader on the team, we’ve got a really good

young core group that’s about 20, 21,” he said.

“Just building the leadership, I think, and just continuing that team culture, we obviously had

a great year last year but didn’t get to finish off, so hopefully we can bring some of that into the finals this year, that bit of animosity and aggression.”

Tigers coach Dom Gleeson believes Darke sits at the top alongside the all-time greats of the BFL and Torquay.

“Well I think he’s up there at the top … it’s hard to put current players down as the best

we’ve seen but certainly in my time … Darkey’s been the most consistent, for mine,” he said.

James Darke ran away from the competition in this year’s Les Ash Medal count. Picture: Alan Barber

“Over the moon for him, he’s such a great clubman, not many people know this about him but he helps out the women’s team whenever he can, he puts his hand up for any extra curricular activities, he drags the boys along.

“When it got to the halfway point (of the count), and the leaderboard was shown, I thought his second half (of the season) was outstanding, so I thought they’d be hard-fast to catch him.”

Gleeson said Darke had signed with the Tigers for the next two seasons, describing him as a “Torquay boy through and through”.

“He’s a star and he’s on a long list of players that we want to keep, that’s for sure, I just feel there’s clubs circling and we’ve just got to show the love to these boys because they’re just such a phenomenal group,” Gleeson said.

Tiger joins Finch in the history books

Torquay star James Darke become the second player in BFL history to win four Les Ash medals after causing a six-vote boilover for the league best and fairest.

Darke polled 27 votes to edge out Geelong Amateur’s Sam Darley and Barwon Heads’ Sammy Baker, who both finished on 21 votes.

Drysdale’s Ben Fennell was the favourite to win the award, but finished on 20 votes and in fourth spot.

Darke will add 2022’s award to his medals won in 2021, 2017 and 2014, and joins Warriors’ Josh Finch (2010, 2012, 2013, 2016) as the only players to receive the medal four times.

Les Ash Medal winner James Darke with his 2021 medal and previous two. Picture: Alison Wynd

Finch finished the count in 12th spot, polling 11 votes for Modewarre.

At the start of the 2022 season, Darke was the favourite for the BFL’s captains at the season launch, receiving four of the 10 available votes.

But by the end of the season, six different coaches tipped Fennell to take out the award, with one voting for Darke to finish second and none for him to win it.

Football BFL: Modewarre v Torquay. Torquay 60 James Darke Picture: Mark Wilson

Many Torquay supporters were calling Darke the greatest Tiger ever after winning his third Les Ash Medal in 2021, with club great Steve Grossman predicting he would win “another couple” awards after last season’s count.

Modewarre’s Jeremy Ollis led the Warriors’ vote count with 17 votes, which was enough to tie Anglesea co-coach Jordan Keras in fifth spot.

Anglesea’s Ryan Adams tied with Drysdale co-coach Tom Ruggles on 15 votes, while Hawks pair Mat Hebbard and James Breust, as well as Torquay’s Paul McMahon, round out the top 10 all tied on 12 votes.

Brenton Rees led Newcomb’s count on the night, ending the season with 10 votes which was enough to tie Queenscliff’s Lachie Kidd in 13th spot, who led the Coutas count.

Grubber James Paterson led Ocean Grove’s count on eight votes, enough to finish equal 17th on the leaderboard.

Portarlington’s count was led by Stephen Walton, who polled two votes.