Mitch Cornish capped off a strong first season with Young by taking out the Weissel Medal.
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It is the second season running Cornish has been named the best player in the competition, after winning the Les McIntyre Medal in his lone season with Goulburn in 2019.
The former NRL player didn't take to the field in 2020.
Cornish was the real steadying influence for the Cherrypickers this season, however the 28-year-old was surprised to come out on top when the vote count was revealed on Friday.
"It was a surprise to be honest but nonetheless it is very good," Cornish said.
"I didn't think I had my best year as I thought I had a really slow start to the season.
"I probably didn't start putting together some consistently good performances until the back end of the year while I thought a few other players had really started the year well.
"There were a few Tumut boys up there no doubt and I thought my brother Nick would have been up there as he had a pretty good year."
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Cornish trialled another newcomer to the competition this season, Tumut recruit Ron Leapai by one vote when the tally was revealed after eight rounds.
He was one clear of Cherrypickers teammate Jayke Hogan.
However his consistency in the back end of the season was rewarded as he finished three clear of the chasing pack.
Blues teammates Lachlan Bristow, who scored nine votes in the second half of the season, and Ron Leapai finished in equal second on 15 votes.
Despite helping Young to third place before the abrupt end of the season, Cornish was expecting a Tumut player to come out on top.
"I thought someone from Tumut would win it as Ron, Tolo (Aroha-Tuinauvai), Zac Masters and Bristow are all good players but I suppose they would be taking points off each other each week," he said.
"It might have helped my cause."
Cornish becomes the first Young player to win the Weissel Medal since Ben McAlpine, who returned to the club for the first time since taking out the honour in 2012.
Mick Sell (1991), Rod Slater (1985) and Michael Scott (1983) are the only other Cherrypickers to be named Group Nine's best and fairest.