IT hasn’t been done for almost a decade, but North Bendigo’s Jarrod Findlay hopes to change that in the coming weeks.
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Findlay is striving to become the first player since 2008 to claim the Heathcote District league’s premiership-Cheatley Medal double.
Findlay ticked the first box on Wednesday night when he won the Cheatley Medal with 15 votes.
The last player to win the Cheatley Medal and a premiership in the same season was Colbinabbin’s Ben Johnston in 2008.
The 25-year-old midfielder is proud to have his name on the Cheatley Medal honour roll, but for the meantime all Findlay is focused on is trying to help the Bulldogs win another premiership.
“It’s obviously a massive honour to win the medal and something I’m proud of, but with what we’re trying to achieve at North Bendigo, I’m solely focused on beating Leitchville this weekend and then, hopefully, the bigger picture of winning the grand final,” Findlay said.
The Bulldogs have the opportunity to advance to what would be a fourth grand final in a row this Saturday when they meet Leitchville-Gunbower in the second semi-final at Lockington.
Just as they have on field this season when they finished 1-2 on the ladder, each with 15-1 home and away records and combined percentages of 605.6, the Bulldogs and Bombers also dominated Wednesday night’s count streamed via YouTube for the first time.
Seven of the top eight vote-getters were either North Bendigo or Leitchville-Gunbower players, with Huntly co-coach Ryan Semmel, who finished second by one vote, the exception.
Findlay’s victory in what was the lowest count since 2004 came three years after his cousin and team-mate, Tyson Findlay, won the Cheatley Medal in 2014.
“He hasn’t stopped letting me know about it over the past few years, so it’s good to get one back on him… it might quiet him down a bit now,” Findlay said.
Part of a star-studded North Bendigo team, Findlay – in his second season at the Bulldogs – polled votes in seven games.
“I thought I’ve had a fairly consistent season without starring,” Findlay said.
“I probably didn’t have too many bad games, and in a team like we’ve got where you’re winning most games, it’s a bit easier to play well. And having a good ruckman in Brett Strange, who gives us onballers first use more often than not, helps too.”
As well as the Cheatley Medal, the winner of the under-17 Roulston Medal also came from North Bendigo in Manny Thalasinos with 30.
