AN expected quiet evening over a couple of beers turned out to be anything but for Ethan Schiller after he was named Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes' best and fairest on Saturday night.
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The 22-year-old had no expectation of being "even close" to claiming the award after rating his AFL Riverina Championship campaign with the Goannas as inferior to his previous season.
But the club junior managed to pick up consistent votes across the shortened six-week season to poll 32, just ahead of Nick Collins (30) and Zac Walgers (28).
Schiller has been a part of the club since he was 12 and said he had no inkling he was even a hope of receiving the club's biggest individual honour.
"I was absolutely shocked, I had no thoughts that I'd even be close. I was definitely really surprised," he said.
"I thought I actually played better last year but I must have been doing something right. I felt like I did a bit more running and got to the right spots, and with the higher standard of player that was on hand this year it helped.
"We had these younger kids seeing all these more experienced guys play, you pick up their skills and at training they changed the whole dynamic of it.
"When you see someone who has success comes to your club, you can see firsthand how they go about it."
The Goannas are still searching for their first flag since 1993 after being knocked out in the first week of finals, but Schiller is confident they're heading in the right direction.
"I would love to win a flag with Mango. The way the club's looking at the moment it's in a really good position, just with the people involved," he said.
"The next few years will be dangerous times for every other club I reckon, but we'll wait and see I guess."
Collins won the players' player and best in finals awards, Jack Reynolds most consistent, Pat Killalea most improved, Trent Cohalan the coach's award and George Kendall leading goalkicker.
Jamie Mooney was judged the under-17.5's best and Jacob Whitley was awarded the reserve grade gong.
In netball, goal attack Sophie Fawns won the best and fairest on 19 votes after the Goannas secured their second premiership in as many years, ahead of defender Vashti Muller (17) and Mikaela Cole (14 votes).
The under-17 netball best and fairest was taken out by Sophie Edmunds, C grade Sophie Anderson, B grade Madison Blackburn and A-reserves Nat Davis.
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