2020 Outridge Medal Preview

Tomorrow night Subiaco will celebrate the Seniors season with the annual Outridge Medal Presentation Dinner.

Players along with their extended teammates, family and friends will be at the Leederville Sports Bar & Functions Centre to recognise a successful season.

After a shortened season, favourites for the medal would have to include those players who played all eight home-and-away games for Subiaco this year.

Favourites on Outridge Medal night include;

Greg Clark
8 games in 2020.
134 disposals. 79 kicks, 55 handballs, averaging 16.8 disposals.
26 marks, 51 tackles, 4 goals.

Clark played every game for the Lions this season, performing strongly both on the inside and outside of the contest as he led the midfield brigade for portions of the season when key personnel were not available. Clark’s ability to hunt the ball around the stoppages was a major highlight of his season as he averaged over six tackles per game, registering six tackles or more in five of his eight games. Clark’s standout game came in the narrow Round 6 loss to East Perth where he collected 22 disposals, took eight marks and laid five tackles in a performance that saw him named as one of the best on ground. 

Lachlan Delahunty
8 games in 2020.
153 disposals. 89 kicks, 64 handballs, averaging 19.1 disposals.
28 marks, 23 tackles, 188 hit-outs.

Last season’s Sandover Medallist backed up his incredible 2019 with another fine season, that saw him hold his place as one of the league’s best and most impactful players. Delahunty did his usual work around the ground, willing himself from contest to contest to average over 19 disposals and nearly 24 hit-outs per game. Delahunty recorded at least 18 disposals in every match bar one while accumulating at least 23 hit-outs in four of his eight matches. Delahunty finished the season in vintage form, gathering 19 disposals and 35 hit-outs against East Fremantle in Round 8 and followed it up in Round 9 against West Perth with an 18 disposal, 36 hit-out performance. Delahunty’s on-field leadership and durability was on display all season as the League side was forced to deal with the unavailability of key players most weeks. 

Leigh Kitchin
8 games in 2020.
170 disposals. 92 kicks, 78 handballs, averaging 21.3 disposals.
19 marks, 54 tackles.

Kitchin enjoyed one of his most consistent seasons in 2020, despite the big names that were missing throughout the year. Kitchin played every game to average more than 21 disposals and nearly seven tackles a game as he asserted himself on every game with and without the ball. Kitchen started the season a little quietly but enjoyed a remarkable last five games of the year, averaging nearly 25 disposals and seven tackles that will no doubt see him poll strongly throughout that period. Kitchin recorded at least 20 disposals in every game across this five-game stretch, including a trademark performance in Round 9 against West Perth. Kitchin was dominant on a disappointing day for the side, as he found the ball 23 times and laid an incredible 13 tackles. 

Ben Newton
8 games in 2020.
131 disposals. 78 kicks, 53 handballs, averaging 16.4 disposals.
20 marks, 19 tackles, 4 goals.

In a season where many key players were unable to play every game, Ben Newton proved how durable he is, putting together another strong season that will no doubt see him amongst the votes once again. Newton consistently found the ball, averaging nearly 17 disposals per game, with his standout performance coming in the Round 5 victory over Peel Thunder at David Grays Arena. In wet and windy conditions Newton found the ball 20 times and recorded five inside 50’s to help his side win by 37-points.

Drew Rhode
8 games in 2020.
87 disposals. 45 kicks, 42 handballs, averaging 10.9 disposals.
17 marks, 17 tackles.

The versatile defender was once again another consistent performer for a Lions outfit that struggled for continuity, with many first-choice players missing with injury throughout the year. The experienced Rhode was a reliable performer every game, commanding the backline and selflessly playing his role for the Lions every week. Rhode’s standout performance came in the round 7 victory over Perth where he worked his way around the ground to record 19 disposals, took four marks and lay five tackles to help set up a 26-point victory for his side.