Nelson Bay midfielder Jayden Rymer has become the youngest winner of the Elliott Davey Medal.
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The 18-year-old was announced as the first grade best and fairest award recipient at the annual Black Diamond AFL presentation held at Belmont 16 Foot Sailing Club on Wednesday night.
Rymer, the first from Nelson Bay to collect the prize, polled 15 points in his return season for the Marlins and finished one clear of three-time defending champion James Webster (14) from Terrigal Avoca. In arguably one of the medal’s closest counts, 11 players finished within six points of Rymer. Ten of them were within three points with three rounds remaining.
But eventually the Sydney Swans reserves player and NSW-ACT under-18 representative staved off a last round challenge from Webster to clinch the sought-after silverware, picking up two points and narrowly edging out a man-of-the-match three by the multiple-title holder.
“He [Rymer] is an all round player with the ability to take a big mark, but also pick up numerous possessions around the ground,” Black Diamond AFL operations manager Garry Burkinshaw said.
“He’s also a danger in front of goals, which was proven in the first semi-final last week when he kicked three final-quarter goals to spark the Marlins comeback win.”
Rymer and Webster now go head-to-head in the preliminary final at No.1 Sportsground on Saturday (1.30pm) for a spot in the September 3 decider against runaway minor premiers Newcastle City.
Nelson Bay kept their season alive and eliminated Cardiff on the weekend with a 13-point minor semi-final win while Terrigal Avoca get another chance despite ending up 22 behind City in the major semi-final.
In other awards the Maurice Goolagong Trophy for most top grade goals went to Newcastle City’s Mitch Crawford, Blues teammate Anthony Baker was voted coaches MVP and Jack Hardman of Warners Bay picked up the rising star.
In the women’s competition Nelson Bay’s Lisa Steane was given a boost ahead of Saturday’s grand final against Newcastle City being named best and fairest for 2016.
ELLIOTT DAVEY MEDAL: Jayden Rymer 15 (Nelson Bay); James Webster 14 (Terrigal Avoca); Adam Grinyer 11 (Nelson Bay); Conor Haswell 11 (Newcastle City); Max Hillier 10 (Cardiff); Cameron Keast 10 (Newcastle City); Mitch Betson 9 (Terrigal Avoca); Max Mumford 9 (Killarney Vale); Jack Hardman 9 (Warners Bay); Anthony Baker 9 (Newcastle City); Aaron Seen 9 (Newcastle City).