Gippsland Power midfielder Nick Graham, centre, was joined by Power stalwart Peter Francis and coach Nick Stevens as he collected his Morrish Medal at Etihad Stadium on Sunday night.
By RUSSELL BENNETT
AT ROUND 14 of the TAC Cup season, Gippsland Power’s Nick Graham trailed North Ballarat Rebels’ gun Nick Rippon by four votes in the Morrish Medal.
But the young Traralgon star came home with a wet sail to claim the prestigious award, which he said, he owed to his parents, his team-mates and coach, mentor Nick Stevens.
“It’s something I didn’t really expect, but I’m just over the moon,” Graham said.
“I can’t explain this feeling.”
Graham, who was also named in the TAC Cup team of the year alongside Power spearhead Tim Membrey, said he was honoured to even attend the Morrish Medal count at Etihad Stadium.
“I was just stoked to be down here seeing all the Vic Country boys,” he said.
Graham, who models his game after Richmond gun Dustin Martin, rated his season “pretty highly”, given he missed last year’s TAC Cup finals campaign through a poor run of form as an under-age player.
But his sheer will and determination to improve, along with an elite work ethic, saw him work on his shortcomings, and now his defensive pressure, which he once lacked, is arguably his greatest strength.
Graham’s father, Brian, is a runner for the Power this season. He was front and centre to see his boy walk up on stage and collect the award.
“When Nick gets a message from the coach and I send it out there, it’s probably a bit more colourful than I give to the other boys,” Brian joked.
“He’s my release, but he knows what I mean.
“We’ve got a great relationship. He knows where I’m coming from.”
Gippsland Power region manager Peter Francis said he hoped Graham was picked up in the upcoming National Draft because he said the youngster deserved it.
But Francis realises there are no guarantees that a Morrish Medal earns a youngster a spot on an AFL list.
Graham won the Morrish with 17 votes and three best-on-ground performances, from Rippon on 16.
Former Dandenong Stingrays’ captain and 2011 Morrish Medallist Alex Benbow (Beaconsfield) presented Graham with the award at the ceremony on Sunday night at Etihad Stadium.
The Stingrays best polling player for the Morrish count was Tim McGenniss (Frankston YCW) on seven.
Berwick defender Nathan Wright was selected on a half-back flank of the TAC Cup team of the year side, while Dandenong’s Lachie Whitfield (Mornington) and Taylor Garner (Rowville) were named on a half-forward flank and the interchange respectively.
Whitfield and Garner were also presented with their All-Australian jerseys after their impressive efforts at the National Championships earlier this year.
