Drew Kenna is crowned Farrer League's player of the year

INAUGURAL WINNER: AFL Riverina board member Paul Habel (left) and Graincorp Southern NSW operations manager Warwick Smith congratulate Coleambally midfielder Drew Kenna for taking out the Farrer League player of the year award. Picture: Michael Frogley

FARRER LEAGUE

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COLEAMBALLY midfielder Drew Kenna has outlasted his team mate Dean Pound to claim the inaugural Farrer League player of the year award.

Kenna enjoyed an outstanding first season with Coleambally to beat several quality players and win the award, sponsored by Graincorp and The Daily Advertiser.

Kenna, 25, has been rewarded for a consistent season after he polled in 10 of a possible 16 games to finish on 34 votes, ahead of Blues ruckman Dean Pound on 29.

Pound polled in nine of the 12 games he played and closed strongly on Kenna in the final month of the competition only to fall just short.

Kenna and Pound were the only two players who could win the award going into the final round last weekend but neither men polled after going down heavily to East Wagga-Kooringal.

Kenna has already vowed to put some of the $500 prizemoney over the bar and thank his Coleambally team mates.

"It's going to be handy, definitely, I'm very happy about it," Kenna said.

"I'm very lucky Dean didn't come home every game.

"I was lucky I had no injuries, a few other blokes who were up there had injuries at different stages of the year which didn't help them, where as I played every game."

Kenna was a part of Narrandera's premiership team in the Riverina Football League in 2012 but played just three games last year after moving to Victoria to work with Melbourne Cup winning owner Lloyd Williams.

He followed good mates Jack Painting and Blake Jones to Coleambally once he moved home and he could not be happier with his first season for the Blues.

"I started off pretty slow," he said.

"We had our club vote count the other day and I didn't poll a vote in the first four rounds or the last three rounds.

"I suppose I found a bit of form in the middle of the year, going off that."

Kenna was edged out by Pound in Coleambally's best and fairest.

The Farrer League player of the year award was determined by each coach filling out a 3-2-1 vote card after each home and away game.

Kenna polled in eight consecutive games from round six to round 13 that saw him clear out and secure a match-winning lead.

Kenna has already re-signed with Coleambally for next season in what he described as an easy decision.

"I've loved it," he said.

"They've welcomed me into the club like one of their own right from the start.

"I can't thank them enough and can't talk highly enough of them."

The top three players in the award were all new players to the Farrer League competition this season.

Prized East Wagga-Kooringal recruit Ben Absolum finished third on 25 votes.