Ashton Hams leads Bulldogs hopes in Sandover Medal

SOUTH Fremantle hasn’t had a Sandover Medal winner since Toby McGrath back in the premiership year of 2005 but that could very well change this Monday night with Ashton Hams one of the hot favourites.

Hams has continued to put together one of the great modern careers of a South Fremantle footballer and if he’s able to add a Sandover Medal to his growing resume, then it will only serve to add to his growing reputation.

The 29-year-old has already played in two premierships with South Fremantle, is a grand final and state game Simpson Medal winner, has played for WA twice and is a life member of the Bulldogs having reached his 150-game milestone late in the 2015 season.

Hams comfortably could have played more than his 37 AFL games with West Coast as well, but he now looms as a genuine Sandover Medal candidate after a consistently strong season.

The left-footer didn’t have a game of less than 17 possessions during his outstanding year in 2015, had nine games with 30 disposals or more, and his finish to the season was especially remarkable averaging 33 touches in the last 10 games.

He is a proven vote winner as well polling 30 last year despite being ineligible and he could very well end up polling that many votes again in his last 10 games of the season. Whether he wins or not might depend on how many votes he receives in the first 10 matches.

First-year South Fremantle coach Todd Curley saw first-hand the outstanding season that Hams had for him largely in the midfield, and wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him claim the Sandover Medal as a result.

“He’s had a pretty good and consistent season. He has played midfield and back mostly but he’s been able to give us some really good ball use off half-back, and drive through the midfield. He has had a pretty consistent year,” Curley said.

“Given he has been so consistent, and has had some really big games this year for us, you would think he’ll be in the mix for those individual awards. You never know with Sandovers and those things, but he has been so consistent that you would think he will poll OK.”

Other players capable of polling well from South Fremantle in the Sandover Medal count for 2015 includes Ashton’s twin brother Kyle Hams as well captain Ryan Cook, defenders Blayne Wilson and Marlion Pickett, and hard-working ruckman Brock Higgins.