A man-of-the-match performance in the final round delivered Yanco-Wamoon hooker Glenn Dumbrell the Ray Thorpe Medal as the Group 20 player of the year.
Dumbrell was lured from Group Nine outfit Kangaroos at the start of the season to link with his junior club.
Dumbrell trailed Griffith Black and Whites dummy-half Andrew Lavaka by two votes heading into the round 18 clash between the to clubs, but a masterful performance in his side’s 44-10 victory got him over the line.
The Hawks assistant coach finished with 25 votes to edge out Lavaka (24) and Tullibigeal-Lakes United forward Willie Jones (20) for the main award at the Group 20 presentation dinner on Friday night.
After the announcement, a humble Dumbrell said the recognition came as a shock.
“Andrew (Lavaka) was always a few points ahead, and you never know with these things,” he said.
“You never know how the voting is going to go, but it’s a good feeling.”
