Getting dirty: North Ringwood’s Jack Whelan in action during the season. Picture: Ted Kloszynski
AFTER winning the Eastern Football League division 3 premiership with North Ringwood, Jack Whelan had everything he wanted from the 2012 season.
He only came to the EFL best and fairest to join his clubmates for an evening out.
He never expected to walk away with the Edie Medal as best and fairest player in division 3, until his name wasn't listed in the minor places before the winner was announced.
"Not until I didn't see my name up on the screen in the runners-up spot, then I thought maybe I was a chance," he said.
"But I didn't believe that until I saw my name up on the board. It's a good feeling; awesome, fantastic."
Whelan polled 21 votes to beat Ringwood's Trent Farmer and Glen Waverley Hawks' Wayne Magee on 17 votes.
Whelan also won the division 3-4 young gun award for best young player and Mulgrave's Tim Knowles won the division 1-2 young gun award.
Jack's victory capped off an unforgettable night for the Whelans as younger brother Sam earlier won the division 3 under-19 best and fairest award.
Jack was just as excited to see hislittle brother acknowledged as he was with his own reward.
"It was fantastic for me to win and for my little brother to get one as well," he said.
"He definitely had a good start to the season and it all went on from there."
Both Whelans have played with the Saints since under-9s and this year Sam got one game in the seniors alongside his brother against Heathmont.
Jack has yet to check of his younger brother stole any votes from him in that match.
"I hope not but he does have a flashy pair of boots so he might have," Jack joked.
Jack Whelan tipped his little brother would have a "red-hot crack" at winning a place in the Saints senior side in 2013.
Overall, he said his medal win left him quite humbled and surprised considering how many of his teammates had good seasons.
"It's something that runs through your mind, we had so many good players this year," he said.
"This just caps the season off beautifully."
■ Vermont star Ryan Mullett was the toast of the Eastern Football League after winning the Chandler Medal as the best and fairest player in division 1.
Mullett won the award at the EFL presentation night on Friday night polling 27 votes, ahead of Knox's Luke Williams on 23 votes and Scoresby ruckman Luke Van Rheenan on 18.
Bayswater's Joel Galvin won the Wright Medal as division 2 best and fairest with 24 votes from Montrose's Dean Stephen on 23..
Waverley Blues' Matthew Watts was the best Monash area performer with 13 votes.
In division 4, The Basin's Matt Kruger won a tightly contested James Medal on 19 votes from Nunawading's Adam Baltruweit and Forest Hill's Ryan Clark on 18.
Norwood's Jake Buckingham won the division 1 reserves medal from teammate Andrew Jennings and Montrose's Sebastion Colakidis won the division 2 reserves medal.
North Ringwood's Daniel John won the division 3 reserves medal and Forest Hill's Robert Di Naccio took out the division 4 reserves medal.