TOPIC:

Congratulations to dual Breckler Medallists Shane Nelson and Andrew Strijk!

And to Matt Guadagnin in coming a very close runner up!







Runner up Matt Guadagnin

Article from the WPFC SITE.. AT
www.westperthfc.com.au/latest-news/joint...in-premiership-year/

THE West Perth Football Club has honoured its premiership team of 2013 at the Breckler Medal count on Friday at Joondalup Resort with joint winners announced in a tight fairest and best count that saw precious little separate the top-four players.
Very few honours in football are valued more highly than winning the fairest and best award for your club in a premiership year, and now damaging half-back Andrew Strijk and prolific midfielder Shane Nelson have been honoured as joint Breckler Medallists for the West Perth Football Club in 2013.
It is the first time that both players have won a Breckler Medal and Strijk across half-back and Nelson through the middle were both pivotal in the Falcons finishing the home and away season in second spot, beating Claremont to make the grand final and then beating East Perth to claim the 2013 premiership.
Strijk and Nelson both finished on 125 votes just ahead of Matt Guadagnin (123), Aaron Black (117), Marc Crisp (114), Jordan Jones (111), Jay van Berlo (110), Steven Browne (105), Chris Keunen (103) and Dan Hunt (102).
Strijk has now played 133 games for West Perth and had perhaps the best season of his career in 2013 upon returning to the Falcons full-time after time with West Coast in the AFL.
He settled into a role across half-back again after the Eagles wanted him to play as a half-forward, and averaged 20.3 possessions a game including a high of 27 in Round 13.
The 26-year-old also played for WA in the state game win over Victoria and his consistency in providing run and drive out of defence, not to mention his outstanding kicking sees him as a deserved premiership Breckler Medal winner.
Nelson might have only played 15 league games coming into the 2013 season, but had shown terrific signs as an emerging midfielder last year and took that up another level further this season.

The 20-year-old played every game for West Perth in 2013 and was a key part of the midfield and a prolific ball winner averaging 26.9 possessions.
His consistency was remarkable with him never having a match of less than 17 possessions and only twice did he gather fewer than 20 disposals.
He started the season with back-to-back games of 30 possessions in Rounds 1 and 2 before going on to have six more games of over 30 disposals including 35 in Round 7, 32 in Round 12, 31 in Round 16 and then a team-high 42 in Round 24 against Swan Districts.
Then of course there was his 36 possessions and 13 clearances in the grand final win over East Perth before he now has a Breckler Medal around his neck after just 37 league matches.
Strijk and Nelson couldn’t be separated in the voting for the Breckler Medal in what is just the second time in history that the fairest and best award has been shared at West Perth.
Remarkably the only other time it has happened since a fairest and best award was first presented in 1923 was when Terence (Checker) O'Keefe and Jack Pola split the award in the premiership year of 1941.

The major reason why West Perth won the 2013 premiership was because of the evenness of the side across all 22 players that lined up any given week, and across the field and that was recognised in the Breckler Medal voting.
Not only were Strijk and Nelson joint winners, but 162-game veteran midfielder Matt Guadagnin was just behind to be runner-up and again the 29-year-old came so close once again to a Breckler Medal.
However, his consistent finishes high-up in the count over the past decade shows just how valuable a member of the Falcons he has been and why he is such a deserved premiership player now.
Twenty-year-old wingman Aaron Black finished third as he was recognised for his outstanding season that including him being West Perth's highest vote winner in the Sandover Medal, representing Western Australia in the win over Victoria and of course then becoming a premiership player.

Fourth was Marc Crisp and his is a terrific story in its own right.
The 26-year-old had managed only 31 league games for West Perth since making his debut in 2008 prior to the start of this year, but cemented himself as a key member of the forward-line both in terms of kicking goals and putting on strong defensive pressure.
He then kicked four goals in the second semi-final win over Claremont and two in the grand final to cap off a terrific season. Crisp also received the Coach's Award from Bill Monaghan.

Young key position player Nick Rodda was also acknowledged for his season that ended in the premiership receiving the Santana Electrical Rising Star Award.
Jordan Jones made no secret that he came to West Perth to be part of team success ahead of the 2012 season once his time in the AFL with the West Coast Eagles ended, and he got the premiership in 2013 and was presented with the Carbone/De Vita Award.
Premiership defenders Luke Tedesco and Steven Browne were also presented with the City of Joondalup Best Clubman and Wayne Dayman Courage Awards respectively while the Joondalup Resort Sacrificial Act Award went to Kody Manning.
The West Perth reserves team put in a terrific showing to make the grand final in 2013 and Swan Districts recruit James Embley won the Roy Ennis Medal as the fairest and best winner ahead of Jack Thrum and Frank Stockley.

LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS
Breckler Medal (Fairest and Best): Andrew Strijk, Shane Nelson
Runner-up Fairest and Best: Matt Guadagnin
Ken Ashdown Memorial Award (Third Fairest and Best): Aaron Black
Past Players Award (Fourth Fairest and Best): Marc Crisp
Santana Electrical Rising Star Award: Nick Rodda
Carbone/De Vita Award: Jordan Jones
League Coach's Award: Marc Crisp
City of Joondalup Best Clubman Award: Luke Tedesco
Wayne Dayman Courage Award: Steven Browne
Ray Scott Memorial Award (Leading Goalkicker): Marc Crisp, Josh Mellington
Joondalup Resort Sacrificial Act Award: Kody Manning

RESERVES AWARD WINNERS
Roy Ennis Medal (Fairest and Best): James Embley
Runner-up Fairest and Best: Jack Thrum
Past Players Award (Third Fairest and Best): Frank Stockley
Reserves Coach's Award: Luke Meadows
BY CHRIS PIKETHE West Perth Football Club has honoured its premiership team of 2013 at the Breckler Medal count on Friday at Joondalup Resort with joint winners announced in a tight fairest and best count that saw precious little separate the top-four players.

Strange Sala isnt going to remain as captain if he is going on why not?
Possibly wants to be mentor to new captain in his last year.

Possibilities in my book would be in order
Manning,Van Berlo, Gaudy, Strijk

Order would be my choice for different reasons e.g age,Retirement,Leadership ability etc

Think Blacky and Nelly still a bit junior to take on the job?

Your thoughts?

Cardy wrote: Strange Sala isnt going to remain as captain if he is going on why not?
Possibly wants to be mentor to new captain in his last year.

Possibilities in my book would be in order
Manning,Van Berlo, Gaudy, Strijk

Order would be my choice for different reasons e.g age,Retirement,Leadership ability etc

Think Blacky and Nelly still a bit junior to take on the job?

Your thoughts?

Srijk or Van Berlo. Surprised by your choice Manning, just starting to mature into a very good footballer, Captain at this stage could be a distraction

Could be right Kirbs but I think Manning is made of the right stuff and was looking at a long term captain. Love Striker but seems a quiet guy always sets an example but Captain?
VB AFL experience like Striker but a bit more up his sleeve?
Some might be surprised I didnt pick Razor.. Always a bit of a general on the field and been around awhile.. What do you think of him and then we have a outsider Crisp who certainly had a blinder this year and I feel will continue to perform well in 2014

They will have to pick a captain soon to get on track. Do the players pick the captain?

Great to see Shane Nelson get a Breckler. Had a hard year last year with the tragic Death of his Father.

His Dad would of been looking down with a Big smile on his face this year after a GF and a Breckler

Couple of clips I made up from last year v SD. Had a brilliant day and shows his ability From SD V WP June 30 2012. Great game Remember it well

Shane Towels them up

After match interview

The Brekler was a great night -
Some items to share:

Massive congrats to the winners - a warm agreement by all in the room on the eventual winners.
As much as my heart is with Nellie , I have to be honest and say I don't agree with all the votes collected, (yes I know a contentious opinion but mine just the same)

I personally assessed Gaudy to be there for his effort this year, much less selfish, more team orientated and way way more 1 per centres and off the ball assist (not always vote collectors)which after all is why our game plan took us to the finals this year, but as I said - not trying to take anything away from the boy Nellie...he showed massive courage in a personally challenging year.

Loved the idea of the Coach getting an award he was totally surprised by - a piece of 'memorabilia' in the form of a caricature presented to him by K Manning on behalf of the entire playing group and I heard created and drawn by one of the players Dads - I managed a peak and it was 'WOW' - amazing likeness of Bill, signed by all the boys and I loved the EAST PERTH grave haha.
Maybe an annual consideration?? I for one love these type of '1 only' for club rooms - maybe when we have our own ....

Pity most of the guests had to wave their hands around like 10 year old 'Miley Cyrus fans' most of he night to get a drink...seems the resort wanted to observe a dry night or maybe reduced costs? haha
Water by jug wasn't an issue though it even replaced the more costly 'soft drinks' to the table - or were they looking after everyone's health regards sugar content - the meal was excellent

Wonderful speech by young Embley - very confident and touched all the right bases - well done.

Speech wise The Captains (Jason)was heart felt and while surprising to some - I am guessing not to those in higher places...
I am thinking with Cardys thoughts he would like to support the incoming Captains role, he cant spend the time required with work and family commitments, he's achieved marvellous titles while in the role and has managed his dream of a final - good way to bow out and just 'PLAY' for a year
I must admit while the idea of Manning is from left field as they say, on reflection our own WOOSHA style player in the lead would certainly cause much feather ruffling amongst the opposition teams haha(no disrespect to WP supporters spouting the eagles x captains name - but Manning is an on-field jugganought with gazelle like speed and can scare shit from a cement block when he's on the field) But as Captains should be - a very unassuming and humble man off the park ....

Speaking of Manning ... I wonder who is aware that the Tribunal/commission saw fit to suspend the boy for FOUR WEEKS over the bump on Grands Final Day!! -- Un F.....G believable!!!!!
This has certainly slipped under the radar comment wise by all and sundry and is outrageous

I believe the Magistrate at the initial appeal over a two week suspension (ridiculous enough)saw fit to increase the rating of the incident to High over light and said he believed it was intentional - not bad since Bennell was up and running after 10 seconds / no head contact / no outward effect on the young mans game, just a day on the park as far as he was concerned I am told.

WP is going to appeal this raping of fair sentencing this coming week - lets hope that decency invades this current old man magistrates thoughts for the next meet and as I think there are two other judges on the appeal night at least a 2-1 will see Manning get a better result .. have any of the tribunal judges/magistrates actually played the game or is this politics in action once again?

Off my soap box -
It was a wonderful end of year celebration for the WP faithful and footy club.
To preface the night by having the captain and coach walk through the seated guests with the 2013 Grand Final cup in hand was a sight I am sure we would all enjoy seeing way more often !! again and again and again - lets see how this AFL alignment suits up next year - my thought are it will not be an easy fit
GO West Perth ....

Congratulations to all the winners last night.
Surprised but happy that Embers won the ressies.
As far as Manning's suspension goes.
What a joke.If i recall Bennell was up and about straight away.
Amazing how Wulff gets 2 reprimands this year and no suspensions.

Van berlo will captain the club in 2014

so Jason has pulled the pin , cody got four weeks and woulf got let off is that right. please explain.