Ah Siu claims South Fremantle’s colts fairest and best

MATTHEW Ah Siu has taken out the Dave Ingraham Memorial Medal as South Fremantle’s fairest and best colts player for 2014 with Jacob Dragovich, Jarrod Pickett, Kade Stewart, Joel McComb and Noah Strom among other major award winners.

South Fremantle’s colts had another strong season only narrowly missing out on a fourth straight grand final appearance.

Having finished the home and away season in third position on the ladder, South Fremantle’s colts had to come from behind at half-time of the first semi-final against East Perth at Medibank Stadium, but did so in impressive style.

That set up a grand final rematch against Claremont in the preliminary final also at Medibank Stadium with the Bulldogs finishing full of running to get back to within a point, but ultimately they fell short by that margin.

It caps off a four-year period for South Fremantle’s colts that has brought about two premierships, a losing grand final by only six points and now a losing preliminary final by just the one point.

Matthew Ah Siu completed his second season with South Fremantle’s colts and was rewarded on Thursday night by being named the fairest and best player for 2014 and claiming the Dave Ingraham Memorial Medal.

The 18-year-old 195cm but agile and quick midfielder and forward delivered a strong season in his 15 games with the Bulldogs averaging 24.4 possessions a game to go with kicking 12 goals.

His strong performances were acknowledged by the Bulldogs’ coaching staff with him receiving 122 votes for the season to win 23 ahead of the runner-up Jacob Dragovich.

Dragovich also completed his second full season with the South Fremantle colts team and was tremendous in his 16 matches averaging almost 24 disposals a game while also doing well as a goalkicker booting 14 for the year.

He also got a taste of senior football with three reserves matches toward the end of the season and was tremendous with 25, 22 and 24 possessions respectively.

Kade Stewart followed in the footsteps of older brother Tim by claiming the Best First Year Player award just 12 months after he claimed the same award.

Tim graduated to playing 17 reserves matches in 2014 and finished third in the fairest and best award announced earlier this month, while Kade had a terrific year with the colts averaging almost 18 possessions as a midfielder.

Joel McComb had a strong season as a hard running midfielder and that was acknowledged with the 17-year-old being presented with the Most Consistent Player award.

Noah Strom saw his older brother Zac step up to play some tremendous league football with South Fremantle in 2014, and he himself came up big in the colts and was named the Most Improved Player.

Corey Salmon received the Coaches Trophy for his performances throughout 2014 while Jye Depane was announced as Best Team Man and the Past Players and Officials Encouragement Award went to Josh Collard.

Cameron Loersch received the leading goalkicker award with the big man from South Mandurah booting 57 goals in his 21 appearances with the colts in 2014.

Brad McPhail took out the Best Team Man award in 2013 and now in 2014 he received the Leadership Award.

Jarrod Pickett took out the Collard Family Indigenous Award for 2014 just 12 months after fellow excitement machine, and likely draftee, Jarrod Garlett took out the same accolade.

SOUTH FREMANTLE COLTS AWARD WINNERS
Dave Ingraham Memorial Medal: Matthew Ah Siu

Runner-up Fairest and Best: Jacob Dragovich

Collard Family Indigenous Award: Jarrod Pickett

Best First Year Player: Kade Stewart

Best Team Man: Jye Depane

Most Consistent: Joel McComb

Most Improved: Noah Strom

Leadership Award: Brad McPhail

Coaches Trophy: Corey Salmon

Past Players & Officials Encouragement Award: Josh Collard

Leading Goalkicker – Cameron Loersch (57 goals)