LPFL - The Ararat Eagles held a vote count and presentation day at their social clubrooms to mark the end of the 2008 Lexton Plains season.
In the senior football it was a nail biter, with two players new to the club battling for top honours.
Big ruckman Craig Cooper took the best and fairest with 34 votes, one ahead of tough onballer Jake Strafehl.
Cooper came to the Eagles this season after spending his last few years with the Ararat Rats in the Wimmera Football League.
Playing his first game in round three against eventual premier Carngham-Linton, Cooper soon found his form and was a consistent feature in the best player lists for the remainder of the season.
Using his size to advantage, Cooper palmed the ball well to give his onballers first use of the football, while winning his fair share of ball around the ground.
He also provided a big target for the Eagles when resting forward, and was willing to help out younger teammates throughout the year.
Runner-up Strafehl also returned to the Eagles from the Rats after one season, and continued to go about his football in a no-nonsense manner.
The tough onballer was continually buried on the bottom of the pack, extracting the ball to his other onballers.
Clever at reading the ball from the stoppages, Strafehl often got his hands to the football first and sent the Eagles forward.
Strafehl also served as assistant coach for the season and proved a real leader around the club.
In the reserves Brad Reiri was voted best and fairest, with Aaron Fratin named runner-up.
Reiri played predominantly as an onballer, and half back flanker.
Coming from a rugby background, Reiri is a very good tackler, and as hard as anyone.
In only his third year of football, Reiri played a couple of games with the seniors, signifying his rapid improvement.
Runner-up Fratin also played some senior football during the season, and was a rock in defence for the Eagles' backline.
The under 17 count was won by Ash Leggett, one of the Eagles most promising junior players.
Playing in the midfield and across half forward, Leggett racked up a mountain of possessions and pushed hard forward, kicking 43 goals for the season.
Leggett was the under 17s' captain, and a major part of their push into the finals series.
Runner-up to Leggett was fellow onballer Ike Zanos.
Zanos is very fast and skilful, and played a number of senior games throughout the season.
Playing predominantly in the midfield with Leggett and Shaun North, Zanos ran hard and used his pace to worry opponents all season.
Jacob Fratin was the winner of the under 14 best and fairest, adding to his VCFL medal for best on ground in the Eagles' premiership team.
Fratin is a tough midfielder who possesses all the skills.
He is a highly rated player around the club, and proved to be a big occasion player, clearly the best on ground in the grand final.
Runner-up to Fratin was Ike Richards, the goalkicking machine who led the league with 106 majors for the year.
Receiving delivery from a pretty handy onball brigade, Richards was the dominant forward in the competition, even when forced to contend with more than one opponent.
Best club person award went to Ash Sladdin for his tireless work with both the junior and senior sides of the football club, while best junior club person was shared by Tom Schwab and Ash Leggett.
President of the club Nats McRoberts was awarded life membership for his outstanding work in getting the club into a strong position after the merger, and his willingness to shoulder responsibility and take on any role for the betterment of the club.
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