WRIGHT MEDAL PREVIEW

As we near the end of the 2014 season we once again turn our attention to the biggest night on the EFL Calender.

Chandler medal night recognises the efforts of not only the players but celebrates the season. In 2014 Chandler Medal night will be held on Monday September 15 once again at 1330 Function Centre, including as part of the build-up to the Division 1 ‘Choose Tap’ Grand Final

Over the next four weeks EFL Media Team Member Blake Gray will be looking at the contenders across all four senior Divisions.

Blake Gray @blake_gray14

THIS WEEK: Division 2 – Kenneth Wright, M.B.E. Medal

Last Year’s Winner: Daniel Rajab (Bayswater)

The 2014 Wright Medal is shaping up to be a contest between midfielders, with Division 2 consisting of the league’s lowest goal-kicking record and clubs boasting some of the most talented midfielders in the game.

Young Jack Whelan has returned in 2014 after taking some time out of the game and hasn’t missed a beat. The 2012 Division 3 best and fairest has been one of the keys to North Ringwood’s success, and Whelan is one of the favourites to win his second trophy at just 21 years of age – an incredible feat if he was to do so.

The Blues’ bald midfield brigade has been one of their most impressive assets of 2014, and it is largely due to the services of Ben Carboni and Matthew Sharpe. Sharpe made the transfer from East Ringwood this year, and was one of Waverley’s best players prior to injury in Round 13.

Cameron Linford has continued the form that saw him take home the 2011 Wright Medal, and the consistent midfielder tends to poll well each year. Fellow Mooroolbark midfielder and captain of the 2013 SEN Division 2 Team of the Year Matt Polkinghorne is also likely to take a share of the votes, with the midfield duo again proving hard to handle in 2014. Polkinghorne was one of the favourites in 2013 after being voted the division’s most valuable player by the coaches, although he only finished with 11 votes, while Linford finished third in the division with 17 votes.

Doncaster East’s Leigh Murphy is a known favourite among the umpire’s votes, and has added goal-kicking to his arsenal of tricks in 2014. Murphy has hit the scoreboard in all but two games, already kicking seven more goals than he did last season and will again come in contention for the Wright Medal.

The Division’s leading goal-kicker Brendan Weinert will also come into consideration, but as we have seen in previous years, it’s a midfielder’s award. The Croydon forward currently averages over 4.7 goals a game to bring his total to 66, and his hauls of 10 and 11 goals should see him in the votes, although shockingly enough, not even his club rated his 11 goals as a best on ground performance.

Bayswater host the previous two Wright Medalists in Joel Galvin (2012) and Daniel Rajab (2013), although the clubs disappointing season will influence their ability to poll well. Galvin and Rajab have still played good footy nonetheless, although it is rare to see anyone poll well in a side that has won just two games so far.

Mulgrave’s Dean Siakoulis is another midfielder who should come into contention. Siakoulis has been named in Mulgrave’s best on ten occasions, including four best on ground performances. Mulgrave are currently in the race for fourth position on the ladder in the final two games, while Siakoulis could also be competing in these final two games for some personal silverware in the form of a Wright Medal.