AFL VICTORIA MEDIA RELEASE

Gippsland Powers Nick Graham has tonight won the 2012 Morrish Medal in the TAC Cup.

In a tight vote count, Graham claimed two votes in the final round to give him the lead and the win on 17, one vote ahead of North Ballarat Rebels’ Nick Rippon.

The Morrish win adds to a big year for the midfielder, having represented Vic Country earlier in the year at the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships, and next Saturday he will attempt to help the Power into the TAC Cup Grand Final with Power playing in a Preliminary Final.

18 year old Graham, whose junior club was Tedas then Traralgon Tyers United, became the third Gippsland Power Morrish Medallist, joining Matthew Stolarczyk (1999) and Jarryd Blair (2008).

Graham polled three best on grounds, and more importantly polled in three of the last four matches to win the Medal in a season where he averaged 25 disposals a game. He was also named at half forward in the TAC Cup Team of the Year, and was equal third in the TAC Cup Coaches Award behind winner from North Ballarat Rebels.

Close to 500 people attended the event, with special guests on the night including Northern Blues player – and former Northern Knight – Adam Marcon, former Essendon forward and Western Jets player and former Dandenong Southern Stingray and now Greater Western Sydney player .

Other Award winners on the night included:

TAC CUP TEAM OF THE YEAR Coach: Martin Allison –

BACKLINE: NICK RIPPON NORTH BALLARAT REBELS TOM CLUREY MURRAY BUSHRANGERS LUKE MCDONALD

HALF BACK LINE KRISTIAN JAKSCH OAKLEIGH CHARGERS NATHAN WRIGHT

CENTRE LINE JONATHAN O’ROURKE CALDER CANNONS OLIVER WINES THOMAS GRIBBLE GEELONG FALCONS

HALF FORWARD LINE LACHLAN WHITFIELD DANDENONG STINGRAYS THOMAS BOYD EASTERN RANGES NICK GRAHAM GIPPSLAND POWER

FULL FORWARD LINE LACHLAN HUNTER WESTERN JETS CALDER CANNONS GIPPSLAND POWER

FOLLOWERS SAM GILMORE NORTHERN KNIGHTS MATTHEW CROUCH NORTH BALLARAT REBELS NORTHERN KNIGHTS

INTERCHANGE JAKE LLOYD NORTH BALLARAT REBELS BENDIGO PIONEERS DANDENONG STINGRAYS RYAN EXON OAKLEIGH CHARGERS MICHAEL BARNES SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS RORY AITKINS CALDER CANNONS

SPEED HURTS AWARDS:

Overall Winners: Western Jets Runner Up: Murray Bushrangers Highly Recommend: Sandringham Dragons

Eva-Peers Medallist: Madeline Keryk

(Awarded annually to the player who is deemed by her peers and coaching staff to have made the most significant contribution to the Victoria U18 Youth Girls team at the AFL National Championships.)

TAC CUP COACHES AWARD: Jake Lloyd (North Ballarat Rebels) 27 votes

Jake Lloyd North Ballarat Rebels 27

Nathan Hrovat Northern Knights 25

Rory Atkins Calder Cannons 24

Nick Graham Gippsland Power 24

Matt Crouch North Ballarat Rebels 23

Nick Rippon North Ballarat Rebels 23

TAC Cup Leading Goal Kicker: Thomas Boyd (Eastern Ranges) 44

Morrish Medallist: Nick Graham (Gippsland Power) 17

Final Morrish Votes

Nick Graham Gippsland Power 17

Nick Rippon North Ballarat Rebels 16

Nathan Hrovat Northern Knights 14

Ryan Exon Oakleigh Chargers 12

Oliver Wines Bendigo Pioneers 11

Matthew Crouch North Ballarat Rebels 11

Josh Bench Western Jets 11