Syd Barker Medal: Brent Harvey
Brent Harvey and Shannon Grant IV's
NORTH Melbourne midfielder Brent Harvey has been awarded his fourth Syd Barker Medal before a crowd of 700 people at Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt on Friday night.
Harvey – in his 13th season – polled 759 votes to win from Drew Petrie (731), Brady Rawlings (671) and David Hale (670) and joins greats Noel Teasdale (1963 to 1966), David Dench (1971, 1976, 1977, 1981) and Wayne Carey (1992, 1993, 1996, 1998) as the only players to have won the Roos’ best and fairest count on four occasions.
The 30-year-old claimed the Syd Barker Medal in 2003, 2005 and 2007, with successive victories a sign of his career-best form.
“I’ll reflect on this sort of stuff when I finish my career. I play footy to win finals … [but] it’s a huge honour to win this,” he said in accepting the award.
A Brownlow Medal favourite for a lot of 2008, Harvey played all 23 games and led the club with 569 disposals at an average of just under 25. He added 25 goals.
Players could potentially receive up to 50 votes a game from the five match committee members, who were able to allocate as many as 10 to each week’s 22.
Rewarded with selection for the Hall of Fame Tribute Match in May, Harvey’s season was further acknowledged with All-Australian honours last month.
For Petrie, it is his highest finish in the count after a campaign which saw him play every match.
Though he was mainly used in the ruck for the second half of the season, he featured at both ends of the ground as a target or saving mark.
Recognised by coach Dean Laidley for his continued emergence as a leader, the 25-year-old was also presented with the best clubman award.
Rawlings, a two-time Syd Barker Medallist, capped a consistent season that included every game and, in addition, he received life membership for 10 years as a senior player.
A solitary vote separated him and big man David Hale, who was the club’s leading goalkicker.
Michael Firrito held out Daniel Wells to fill out the top five.
Gavin Urquhart was named rookie of the year after a debut season of 14 games and an NAB Rising Star nomination.
Retiring trio Shannon Grant, Nathan Thompson and Jess Sinclair received a tribute at the function, with Grant’s career coming to an end after 301 AFL games.
And life membership also went to Tim Harrington, for 17 years service as a player and administrator, and Max Stone, for 26 years part-time as a recruiting officer and room steward.
2008 Syd Barker Medal top 10
Brent Harvey 759
Drew Petrie 731
Brady Rawlings 671
David Hale 670
Michael Firrito 647
Daniel Wells 641
Daniel Harris 621
Adam Simpson 617
Leigh Harding 615
Daniel Pratt 607
Rennie Johnston Cheer Squad Determination Award: Brent Harvey
Northerners Award: Drew Petrie
Vice President’s Rookie of the Year Award: Gavin Urquhart
Jack ‘Scull’ Castle Trainers and Staff Encouragement Award: Matt Campbell
Jason McCartney Jumper Players Award: Drew Petrie
Harold Henderson Best Clubman Award: Drew Petrie
