2017 Outridge Medal Preview
Wednesday, September 27, 2017 - 10:35 AM
Subiaco's gala event of the year, the 2017 Outridge Medal will be held tonight at the Subi Sports Bar with a number of players to be recognised for their outstanding contributions across 2017.
The Lions had a magnificent season, only dropping one game during the home-and-away season as they clinched their third consecutive minor premiership.
A host of players dominated throughout the 2017 WAFL season, which will lead to a very interesting count at the Outridge Medal.
Below are the contenders.
ADAM COCKIE
Despite playing the first five games with the Reserves, Cockie barged his way into the League team and never looked back. In 17 games he averaged 22 possessions, and six tackles to firmly put himself into Outridge Medal contention. He was at his hard-nosed best against West Perth in round 15 (21 possessions & 10 tackles), Perth in round 16 (30 possessions, seven tackles & seven inside 50s), Claremont in round 17 (27 possessions & 10 inside 50s), East Fremantle in round 19 (27 possessions & two goals), Swan Districts in round 20 (31 possessions & 7 inside 50s), and South Fremantle in the Preliminary Final (23 possessions, five tackles & four inside 50s).
LACHLAN DELAHUNTY
This year’s centre half-forward in the WAFL Team of the Year, Delahunty produced a season that would see him as a deserving winner of the Outridge Medal. In 22 games, he averaged 21 possessions, 16 hit-outs, five marks and two tackles as the club’s makeshift ruckman. He had starring performances against Swan Districts in round 8 (21 possessions, & 12 hit-outs) and round 20 (24 possessions, 13 marks, 11 hit-outs & two goals), Perth in round 16 (26 possessions, 16 hit-outs & two goals), West Perth in round 22 (27 possessions & three goals), East Perth in round 23 (14 possessions, 11 hit-outs & four goals), Peel Thunder in the semi-final (23 possessions, eight marks & six inside 50s), and South Fremantle in the preliminary final (23 possessions & 24 hit-outs).
AARON HEAL
Last year’s runner-up, Heal has put forward an excellent season that could see him take home the Outridge Medal in 2017. In 21 games, he averaged 15 possessions, four marks, two tackles, and more often than not he shut out his direct opponent. The 2015 WAFL Premiership player had starring performances against West Perth in round 3 (12 possessions, four marks & four tackles) and round 15 (11 possessions & five tackles), East Perth in round 5 (17 possessions & four marks), Swan Districts in round 8 (11 possessions & four marks) and round 20 (20 possessions & seven marks), South Fremantle in round 9 (15 possessions, four tackles, three marks & two inside 50s), Claremont in round 17 (19 possessions, five marks, & two inside 50s), Peel in round 18 (26 possessions & 14 marks), in the Semi Final (14 possessions, five marks & three tackles) and in the Grand Final (16 possessions, six marks & six tackles).
KYAL HORSLEY
The inspirational captain has put forward another outstanding season, that saw him finish third in this year’s Sandover Medal despite missing several weeks with injury. The dual Outridge Medallist recorded the second most possessions by any Lion in 2017 (485 at an average of 26 per game), and laid the fourth most tackles (91 at an average of five per game) as he continually set the standards for his troops. He was named in the best on 10 occassions, with stellar performances against Perth in round 2 (35 possessions, four inside 50s, three tackles & two goals), Swan Districts in round 8 (24 possessions, six inside 50s, five tackles & a goal), South Fremantle in round 9 (30 possessions & three goals), Peel in round 11 (24 possessions, nine tackles, eight inside 50s & a goal), and Claremont in round 17 (27 possessions, five inside 50s, four tackles & two goals). The powerful midfielder also demonstrated his big game player reputation with an inspiring performance in the Grand Final wirh 32 possessions, seven tackles & seven inside 50s.
LEIGH KITCHIN
The former Victorian has put together his best year for the Lions since his arrival, finishing fourth in the Sandover Medal. In 23 games, he finished in the top 10 of the competition for possessions (562 at an average of 24 per game), top 15 for tackles (99 at an average of four per game), and finished in the top 10 at Subiaco for goals kicked (14). He was named in the best on 10 occasions, and his best games came against West Perth in round 3 (28 possessions, seven tackles, five inside 50s & a goal), East Fremantle in round 10 (30 possessions, seven tackles & four inside 50s), Peel in round 11 (26 possessions, six inside 50s & five tackles), Perth in round 12 (33 possessions, nine inside 50s & a goal), Claremont in round 17 (32 possessions, six tackles, four inside 50s & a goal), and Swan Districts in round 20 (27 possessions, eight marks & five inside 50s). He also put forward a magnificent finals campaign, averaging 24 possessions, eight tackles, two inside 50s & two marks.
JORDAN LOCKYER
The former Sydney Swan has elevated his standing in the competition as a premier key defender after another sensational season. In 22 games he averaged 12 possessions, six marks and two tackles, but his stats do not tell all about his influence. His strength in the contest is second to none, and his ability to read the play and intercept the opposition’s attacking forays is arguably the best in the competition. His strongest games came against Peel in round 4 (14 possessions & five tackles) and the Grand Final (17 possessions, four tackles & three inside 50s), Perth in round 12 (18 possessions, four marks & two tackles), while he also had excellent shut down games against Claremont in round 6 (he restricted Beau Maister to four possessions & a goal) and East Perth in round 13 (he held Fraser McInness goalless).
LIAM RYAN
The 2017 Bernie Naylor Medallist has a serious chance of ending his outstanding season with the Outridge Medal. His goal tally of 73 goals is the most goals by a Subiaco player in a season since Blake Broadhurst booted the same number in 2011. Throughout the year Ryan produced many spectacular moments either by leaping over opponent’s heads, using his speed to burn off his opponents, or using his skill and intelligence to create moments of magic. His dominant outings came against South Fremantle in round 1 (11 possessions & three goals), Perth in round 2 (18 possessions & six goals), East Perth in rounds 5 (16 possessions & six goals) and 23 (16 possessions & six goals), Claremont in round 6 (16 possessions & five goals), Peel in round 18 (12 possessions & four goals), East Fremantle in round 19 (15 possessions & five goals), and Swan Districts in round 20 (19 possessions & five goals).
PAST WINNERS
2016: Chris Phelan
2015: Chris Phelan
2014: Kyal Horsley
2013: George Hampson & Brett Mahoney
2012: Aidan Parker
2011: Kyal Horsley
2010: Blake Broadhurst
2009: Shaun Hildebrandt
2008: Greg Broughton
2007: Brad Smith
2006: Mark Haynes
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