2018 Blakemore Medal Preview

The Subiaco Football Club Outridge Medal Presentation Dinner will take place this Friday night as the club looks to celebrate the most successful season in club history.

While the league fairest and best count, the Outridge Medal takes top billing, another significant award presented on the night is the fairest and best for the Subiaco Reserves, the Blakemore Medal.

The Blakemore Medal is named after Cam Blakemore who played 175 games in the 1960s and 1970s for Subiaco, winning the Fairest & Best three times.

Blakemore was renowned for his excellent play and sadly died not long after his playing career finished, after a short battle with cancer.

This year’s Blakemore count sees the defending medallist go in as favourite with a mix of experienced and young players also likely to contend on the night.

These are some of the favourites for the count:

DANIEL LEACH

Leach goes into the 2018 Blakemore Medal count as favourite after taking out the Prendergast Medal as the WAFL Reserves Best and Fairest in 2018. Leach took out the Blakemore Medal last season, his first with Subiaco, while this year, his second with the Lions he has been ever better. Leach averaged 25 possessions and five tackles a game. His consistent performances led to a league debut late in the season where he played two league games. Collected 30 possessions five times through the year, including a career high of 36 in Round 12. Expect Leach to be a consistent vote collector across the night.

BEN REID

After finishing third in the fairest and best count a year ago, Reid seems poised to again run close to the winners after another strong season in defence for Subiaco. Reid has developed into one of the best young shutdown defenders at the club while also continuing to provide drive from the back half. Has again shown the ability to do a job on varying types of players. A popular player with the coaching staff and teammates, Reid was rewarded with a second Premiership medal in 2018. Played every game in 2018, helping his chances of a popular win.

JACK BEVERLEY

One of only a couple of players to play every game at WAFL Reserves level in 2018, Beverley is another strong contender heading into the count. With the Blakemore Medal voting system favouring those who play every game, Beverley is another with a strong chance of claiming a win. After an injury riddle couple of years, Beverley put together his best season at senior football level averaging 12 possessions across 21 games. Was able to play a number of different roles for the Subiaco Reserves across the season.

SEAN BRADLEY

Returning to Subiaco after a year off to focus on studies, Bradley was a key inclusion across the year playing 17 Reserves games. Bradley played an important role as a target forward inside 50, while also spending time pinch hitting in the ruck. Subiaco’s best form and best team balance appeared to come when Bradley was able to play this dual role well. Finished with 17 goals on the season while also averaging on par with his career of nine possessions per game.

TRAVIS CLEGGETT

A star in country football, Cleggett made the move to embrace senior WAFL football for the first time in 2018 and produced a strong season in the Subiaco midfield. Cleggett played every game for the season, collecting just over 18 possessions per game. His ability to both win his own ball, and provide an option on the outside meant that Cleggett was one of the more versatile midfield options for the Subiaco Reserves. Won the Hayward Medal as the fairest and best in the South West Football League last year, and could be a surprise winner to take home the Blakemore Medal on Friday night.

TIM SUTHERLAND

The big ruckman, Sutherland overcame an early season injury to become a valuable member of the Subiaco Reserves in the second half of the year. Sutherland was massive in the ruck contests all year, averaging over 40 hitouts a game, including back to back games with 52 and 63 hitouts. Continued to work on his game at ground level to provide another attacking option when the ball hit the ground.

MAX DENNIS

In his first year coming into senior football from the colts program, Dennis improved dramatically and became a key part of the Subiaco Reserves side across the year, playing 20 games. Dennis showed an ability to play different roles for the side, spending time down back, while also showing some excellent promise with some extended midfield time mid-season. Averaged just over 12 possessions per game with a 26 possession game in Round 14 among his best of the year.

JAKOB ATKINSON

Another new player to Subiaco’s Reserves side in 2018, Atkinson was a valuable inclusion to the Subiaco defence. Atkinson played 19 games across the year, growing into a role in the back line, showing an ability to beat opponent forwards while also providing drive from behind. As the season went on, showed to be a reliable mark in the back half and a player who read the game very well. Another who could surprise in the Blakemore count.

ADAM COCKIE

Though Blakemore Medal voting does reward consistent performances, the standout games of Cockie means he is a smoky for the medal on Friday night. Cockie continued to work his body back from various injuries, he became a vital member of the Reserves midfield in the second half of the year, helping lead the Reserves to the premiership. His Grand Final game was among the best of his career, single handily willing the side to a famous premiership win.  

Members and fans can still get tickets to the Outridge Medal night. $60 including a two course meal, contact the club directly to claim your spot today.