Cleggett takes out Blakemore Medal in first season with Subiaco

Subiaco midfielder Travis Cleggett has capped off a sensational debut season with the Subiaco Football Club by taking out the Blakemore Medal, awarded to the club’s best and fairest in the Reserves.

 

In a highly exciting and tense finale, Cleggett edged out runner-up and last year’s winner Daniel Leach by just four votes.

 

Cleggett finished with 527 votes and Leach on 523 votes.

 

It was a fitting end to a fine debut season for the Collie recruit, with Cleggett proving to be a valuable addition to the Subiaco Reserves midfield playing every game in 2018.

 

Across the year Cleggett continued to grow and develop, showing his ability to win his own ball, be in the right place to receive and be prepared to drive the ball inside 50.

 

A year after winning the Hayward Medal as the best player in the South West Football League, Cleggett has shown his ability at country footy has transferred to WAFL football.

 

Despite having to make regular travel for work before and after training and games, Cleggett’s commitment to the club and improving his game were dually rewarded with the win on Friday night.

 

It culminates a whirlwind fortnight for Cleggett who also won a premiership medal in his first season with the Lions a fortnight ago.

 

He continues a trend of outstanding country footballers developing at Subiaco, with Cleggett following in the footsteps of Leach as winners of the Blakemore Medal after decorated country careers.

 

For Leach it was another reward for another outstanding season, backing up a fairest and best a year ago with a second placed finish.

 

Leach’s great season was highlighted by making his league debut late in the season, with the tough inside midfielder likely to add to those two league games in 2019.

 

While Leach and Cleggett were the runaway top duo, the consistent Ben Reid completed a second straight third placed finish in the Blakemore Medal.

 

The ever reliable Subiaco defender finished with 474 votes to finish third with young guns of the Subiaco reserves in Jack Beverley with 447 and Max Dennis with 406 rounding out the top five.

 

Recruits were well placed in the top ten with Jakob Atkinson sixth, Kaidyn Fullgrabe seventh and David Ehlers tenth.

 

James Eccles and Sean Bradly in eighth and ninth respectively were the other players to place with top ten finishes.

 

While Eccles and Ehlers were desperately unlucky to miss on Grand Final berths, their standing within the club and their coaches was highlighted by top ten finishes.

 

The other key award presented for the night was the Newton Screaigh Award as decided by the coaches, with the popular Jack Beverley taking out this award.

 

Beverley bounced back from an injury hit couple of seasons with a fine year, rewarded with a premiership medal after just missing out on that achievement last year.

 

After a year which ended in back to back premiership success, by looking at the results of the Blakemore Medal count, the future of Subiaco is bright.

 

 

BLAKEMORE MEDAL AWARDS

2018 WINNERS

 

Blakemore Medallist

Travis Cleggett

Fairest & Best

 

Bill Mackie Memorial Trophy

Daniel Leach

Runner Up Fairest & Best

 

Outstanding Play Award

Ben Reid

Third Fairest & Best

 

Newton Screaigh Award

Jack Beverley

Coaches Award

 

 

BLAKEMORE MEDAL
TOP 20

 

Travis Cleggett 527 Votes

Daniel Leach 523 Votes

Ben Reid 474 Votes

Jack Beverley 447 Votes

Max Dennis 406 Votes

Jakob Atkinson 391 Votes

Kaidyn Fullgrabe 359 Votes

James Eccles 358 Votes

Sean Bradley 350 Votes

David Ehlers 350 Votes

McKenzie Lawrence 333 Votes

Adam Cockie 325 Votes

Tim Sutherland 308 Votes

Tom Edwards-Baldwin 293 Votes

Craig Hoskins 290 Votes

Michael Braut 285 Votes

Aaron Breman 265 Votes

Ray Daniels 255 Votes

Koby Fullgrabe 248 Votes

Josh Underwood 246 Votes