David Harding
Cain LynchTussle of best and fairest
March 29th 2011 05:59
Source: The Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania
By Brett Stubbs
NEW North Hobart recruit Zane Murphy did not enjoy much luck with individual awards last year.
Murphy polled the most votes in the competition best and fairest, the Tassie Medal, only to be disqualified for being suspended for rough play earlier in the year.
Despite his three-match suspension for rough play, in the RACT player of the year award Murphy lagged by just one vote going into the final round, but failed to make up the gap and finished runner-up to Launceston skipper Scott Stephens.
This season, RACT is again putting up $2500 worth of travel and $2500 spending money for the league's best player as judged by the state's print journalists.
"I don't think you ever need motivation to try and win a $5000 award but as long as we're winning games and I'm playing well then that would be good," Murphy said yesterday.
"I won't be 100 per cent fit for round one, so I reckon I'll just work into it over the next couple of weeks and I'll be right."
Another major contender, Glenorchy co-captain Jaye Bowden, said the arrival of Brownlow Medallist Jason Akermanis to KGV would only lift the Pies to greater heights.
"We've had a couple of training runs now and he attended our camps, so he's actually got to know a few of the guys fairly well," Bowden said.
"If anything, it should give us a little bit more confidence having him run around in the team."
Bowden said there was no greater burden carrying the captaincy title into the season for the first time.
"Not really, with Jon Bowring the co-captain as well, it takes a bit of the pressure off and I'd like to think we've got a lot of other leaders out there as well which helps us in our role, so I'm not feeling anything more than usual."
Glenorchy and Clarence kick off the season at KGV at 6pm Saturday.
By Brett Stubbs
NEW North Hobart recruit Zane Murphy did not enjoy much luck with individual awards last year.
Murphy polled the most votes in the competition best and fairest, the Tassie Medal, only to be disqualified for being suspended for rough play earlier in the year.
Jye Bowden, left, of Glenorchy, Zane Murphy, of North Hobart and Clarence's Cameron Thurley at yesterday's player of the year launch. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES
Despite his three-match suspension for rough play, in the RACT player of the year award Murphy lagged by just one vote going into the final round, but failed to make up the gap and finished runner-up to Launceston skipper Scott Stephens.
This season, RACT is again putting up $2500 worth of travel and $2500 spending money for the league's best player as judged by the state's print journalists.
"I don't think you ever need motivation to try and win a $5000 award but as long as we're winning games and I'm playing well then that would be good," Murphy said yesterday.
"I won't be 100 per cent fit for round one, so I reckon I'll just work into it over the next couple of weeks and I'll be right."
Another major contender, Glenorchy co-captain Jaye Bowden, said the arrival of Brownlow Medallist Jason Akermanis to KGV would only lift the Pies to greater heights.
"We've had a couple of training runs now and he attended our camps, so he's actually got to know a few of the guys fairly well," Bowden said.
"If anything, it should give us a little bit more confidence having him run around in the team."
Bowden said there was no greater burden carrying the captaincy title into the season for the first time.
"Not really, with Jon Bowring the co-captain as well, it takes a bit of the pressure off and I'd like to think we've got a lot of other leaders out there as well which helps us in our role, so I'm not feeling anything more than usual."
Glenorchy and Clarence kick off the season at KGV at 6pm Saturday.
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