Dukes Shines

[Dale61]

http://williamstown.footballvictoria.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&aid=97916

Jeremy Dukes has capped off a sensational 2005 season by winning the 2005 Gerry Callahan Medal as Williamstown’s Best and Fairest. This award is in addition to other honours bestowed in 2005 being selected in the 2005 VFL Team of the Year and Captaining the Club on three occasions in the absence of regular skipper Brad Lloyd.

Dukes played the first three games in the reserves following a limited preseason. His first senior game came in round 4 and he played a total of 16 games in 2005.

Dukes was sensational at Centre Half Forward and Full Forward for the Gulls. He led the goalkicking with 31, with his best a haul of 6 coming in the round 17 loss to Port Melbourne. He polled a total of 47 votes.

Dukes’ efforts were not lost amongst his team-mates. Dukes was also awarded the Ron James Memorial Trophy as the Most Valuable Player. This award is significant because it is voted on by the playing group to the player who most displays the qualities of courage, determination, leadership, spirit and an ability to overcome adversity. Dukes also won the award in 2004.

Jason Cloke was presented with the Peter McIntyre Memorial Trophy as the runner up in the best and fairest. Polling 41 votes, Cloke was a standout in the Seagulls defence.

Other award winners were Matthew Lokan who was presented with the Cec Page Memorial Trophy as the Most Consistent for 2005; Andrew Williams won the Arthur Johnson Memorial Coaches Trophy; Sam Cranage won the one-percent award for the player with the most one-percenters throughout the season; Jackson Barling won the WFC Match Committee Most Promising Player award with Dukes also presented with the Bert Hodge Memorial Leading Goalkicker award.

Patrick Rose won the reserves vote count with 67 votes from Nick McArdle with 57. Dean Galea was awarded Most Consistent, Liam Picken Most Determined, Paul Shelton Best in Finals and Tom Langlands the Coaches Trophy.