Rookie crowned BFL's best

By Luke West
Updated November 7 2012 - 2:50am, first published September 13 2009 - 12:10pm
MASTER AND APPRENTICE: AFL great Greg Williams presents Lee Coghlan with the Michelsen Medal. Picture: JULIE HOUGH
MASTER AND APPRENTICE: AFL great Greg Williams presents Lee Coghlan with the Michelsen Medal. Picture: JULIE HOUGH

SANDHURST on-baller Lee Coghlan yesterday became just the fourth teenager in Bendigo Football League history to win the Michelsen Medal.At just 18-years-old, Coghlan polled 18 votes to win the BFL’s highest individual honour at the All Seasons Quality Resort.The win capped a fairytale debut senior season with the Dragons for Coghlan.As well as winning the Michelsen Medal, Coghlan was also crowned the BFL’s Rising Star, while he was also the winner of The Advertiser-ASM Player of the Year Award.Coghlan clinched the Michelsen Medal by polling two votes in the Dragons’ round 18 win over Eaglehawk at the QEO.With the two votes, he overtook Gisborne midfielder Ollie Messaoudi, who had to settle for second with 17 votes.Since joining Gisborne in 2002, yesterday was the consistent Messaoudi’s fourth top-five finish in the Michelsen Medal. Rounding out the top-three were South Bendigo pair Gavin Bowles and the ineligible Brady Childs, who each polled 15 votes.Childs finished only three votes away from Coghlan, despite missing three games through suspension.By winning yesterday, Coghlan joined only Sandhurst’s Brian Walsh (1969), Golden Square’s Greg Williams (1982 and 1983), and Gisborne’s Matt Fitzgerald (2003) as teenagers to have won the Michelsen Medal.Fittingly, Williams, who later went on to forge an outstanding VFL-AFL with the Sydney Swans and Carlton, was on hand to present the medal to Coghlan.With his win, Coghlan became the first Sandhurst player since his uncle, Frank Coghlan, in 1995 to claim the Michelsen.“I can’t believe it; I’m totally taken aback by it,’’ the modest Coghlan said."I really don’t know what to say . . . it’s obviously a great feeling to be recognised like this.“I’ve been happy enough with my season. I just worked on trying to play good hard footy each week and I was lucky enough to poll a few votes.’’Coghlan, who was part of the BFL’s inter-league win over Ballarat in May, polled votes in eight of his 18 games.He collected the maximum three votes in three games - against Strathfieldsaye in round five, Kangaroo Flat in round 11, and Strathfieldsaye in round 17.He also polled two votes in four games, and one vote in one game.Coghlan played his junior football with Bridgewater in the Loddon Valley Football League, before joining Sandhurst in 2006, where he was a member of the Dragons’ under-18 premiership side.After two years on the Bendigo Pioneers’ list in 2007 and 2008, he returned to Sandhurst this season and has been one of the key reasons why the much improved Dragons won nine games, after winning just one last season.“It has been a really enjoyable year and I’m really looking forward to pulling the boots on again next season,’’ Coghlan said.In presenting the medal to Coghlan, Williams said: “It has been a climax from Rising Star to now Michelsen Medal winner. “It’s a great effort and you’re obviously a serious player.“It’s a good sign if you’re 18 and you can win this.’’

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