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The Night has finally arrived... The much
anticipated announcement of the inaugural Barking Dockers
Balding Speedster trophy is finally upon us. Let us first
explain what the award is all about. The trophy is named
after one of our most decorated and illustrious players of
all time, the famous "Balding Speedster", Andrew Wills. His
career began as a Geelong player but only because the men in
purple were yet to exist. When Neesham and his eclectic
troupe of misfits were announced in 1994, Wills was drawn
like a moth to the flame. He quickly established himself as
a cult favourite in the outer, with his shiny noggin and
those white, pumping legs catching the eye of many fluttered
female heart. He was well known for his dash, liberal use of
his tongue, and a penchant for celebration. Wills is
responsible for perhaps the most famous Dockers moment, an
impossible goal from the boundary line at the WACA against
the Kangaroos to win the game. His airplane celebration is
one of the AFL's most reproduced images. There is great
debate about the high point in this great man's career, but
leading the 1997 Brownlow count after 15 rounds would have
to stand as close to it. This albino sensation is a fitting
man to have on Barking Docker's most prestigious award,
indeed more prestigious than any award (more prestigious
than the Club Champion, The Clinton Wolf Medal and the Brownlow combined) - the Best Player of the Year as voted on
a 3-2-1 basis by the Barking Docker members of which every
member of Bark can participate. And the winner is...
Dadadadada!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paul Hasleby!!!
With a stellar first half of the season, where he was a
Brownlow favourite, the Bark Faithful stacked the votes on,
giving him a pretty much insurmountable lead. His second half
of the season was not as prolific, as other teams put the
tight screws on the Purple architect. However, his
guts and determination in some of our lesser games ensured
the votes kept trickling in and ensured he was our runaway
winner. The main challenge came from Luke "Use The Force" McPharlin who polled extremely well throughout the season
but unfortunately broke his collar bone, forcing him to miss
five crucial games. That he came second despite this massive
disadvantage is a credit to the man. Others to poll well
were, as always our courageous captain Peter Bell, young
guns "Lord" Byron Schammer, ever reliable "Sir" Robbie
Haddrill and Justin Longmuir who after being dropped for
indifferent form really turned on a show for the remainder
of the season. But it is Haze who wins the first ever
Balding Speedster trophy and all that running training with
the now sacked Adam Larcom must have been a sign that he was
keen to claim this coveted prize. Congratulations Haze, we
will make a presentation to you round 1: 2005!
The
Votes Tally... Paul Haselby: 30 votes Luke McPharlin:
24 votes Peter Bell: 17 votes Byron Schammer: 16 votes
Robbie Haddrill: 16 votes Justin Longmuir: 16 votes
Matthew Pavlich: 14 votes Shaun McManus: 10 votes Troy
Simmonds: 9 votes Paul Medhurst: 7 votes Andrew Browne:
7 votes Jeffrey Farmer: 5 votes Aaron Sandilands: 3
votes Troy Longmuir: 3 votes Roger Hayden: 3 votes
Dylan Smith: 3 votes Shane Parker: 2 votes Graham Polak:
2 votes Clive Waterhouse: 2 votes Dion Woods: 2 votes
Troy Cook: 1 vote James Walker: 1 vote
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