Claremont's Jye Bolton wins 2016 Sandover MedalMonday, September 19, 2016 - 10:24 PM - by Chris Pike

CLAREMONT'S Jye Bolton has capped a remarkable first WAFL season with the Tigers on-baller adding the Sandover Medal to his Simpson Medal in a vote count that featured all the expected favourites on Monday night.

The Sandover Medal count for 2016 was held at Perth Convention Exhibition Centre and while Peel Thunder's Matt de Boer, Perth's Clint Jones, East Fremantle's Liam Anthony, West Perth's Shane Nelson and Subiaco's Chris Phelan all went close, it was Bolton who took out the award.

It was a thrilling vote count with Ashton Hams racing out to an early lead with 25 votes after 10 rounds despite being ineligible. He was runner-up to Perth's Aidan Tropiano last year but he didn’t add to his 25 votes the rest of the count.

Jones then found himself in the lead after 15 rounds with 26 votes to be four ahead of de Boer and Nelson, and six ahead of Bolton and Phelan.

But it was Bolton who took his game up to another level in the last seven games of 2016 trying to get Claremont into the finals. Over his past seven matches he averaged 35.3 possessions and as a result polled 29 votes in that time to finish winning the Sandover Medal with 49.

Bolton as playing his first WAFL season having crossed rom Werribee in the VFL and he delivered a tremendous season for the Tigers in the midfield. He also won the state game Simpson Medal after having 46 possessions and to goals in WA's 134-point victory over Tasmania.

He ended up winning nine votes ahead of de Boer (42) and 10 ahead of Jones (39) with that trio proving the standout vote winners after their outstanding consistent seasons in the midfield for their respective clubs.

A further 10 votes back was East Fremantle's Anthony who has now polled 60 votes the past two years with the Sharks highlighting his consistency.

West Perth's Nelson played only 13 games due to injury but polled votes in nine of those to end up with 28 for the season ahead of his ineligible teammates Aaron Black (27) and Jay van Berlo (26).

Subiaco's Chris Phelan had another strong season in the midfield for the Lions on the way to another grand final appearance and he polled 27 votes.

Another VFL recruit Shane Hockey polled 25 votes for South Fremantle ahead of East Perth's Patrick McGinnity (24), East Fremantle's George Hampson (22), Peel Thunder Rory O'Brien (20) and last year's winner Tropiano (20).

The night featured more than just the awarding of the Sandover Medal as well with East Perth's Tom Omodei receiving the Prendergast Medal as the best player in the reserves.

The best player in the colts was presented early this month with Peel Thunder's Michael Humble winning the Jack Clarke Medal.

South Fremantle won the Rodriguez Shield with the Bulldogs' league, reserves and colts teams all playing finals football in 2016. South Fremantle's league side made it to the preliminary final with both the reserves and colts bowing out in the first semi finals.

Nathan Williamson won the Montgomery Medal as the Umpire of the Year for 2016 while Claremont's colts coach Ross McQueen took out the JJ Leonard Medal as he prepares to lead the Tigers into a fourth straight grand final looking for back-to-back premierships.

Meanwhile, Dave Burton of the West Perth Football Club District won the 2016 Sunday Times WA Football Volunteer of the Year.

TOP 10 SANDOVER MEDAL VOTE WINNERS
Jye Bolton (Claremont) – 49 votes
Matt de Boer (Peel Thunder) – 42
Clint Jones (Perth) – 39
Liam Anthony (East Fremantle) – 29
Shane Nelson (West Perth) – 28
Chris Phelan (Subiaco) – 27
Aaron Black (West Perth) – 27*
Jay van Berlo (West Perth) – 26*
Ashton Hams (South Fremantle) – 25*
Patrick McGinnity (East Perth) – 24

CLUB BY CLUB
CLAREMONT
Jye Bolton – 49
Jake Murphy – 16
Darcy Cameron – 15
Jared Hardisty – 12*
Jack Bradshaw – 11*

EAST FREMANTLE
Liam Anthony – 29
George Hampson – 22*
Cameron Eardley – 16*
Jesse Crichton – 10
Brett Peake – 10*

EAST PERTH
Patrick McGinnity – 24
Kane Lucas – 17
Paul Johnson – 12
Corey Adamson – 11
Jack Redden – 10

PEEL THUNDER
Matt de Boer – 42
Rory O'Brien – 20
Tendai Mzungu – 18
Blair Bell – 10
Ed Langdon – 10

PERTH
Clint Jones – 39
Aidan Tropiano – 20
Liam McKenna – 16
Julian Jacobs – 14
Angus Graham – 8*

SOUTH FREMANTLE
Ashton Hams – 25*
Shane Hockey – 25
Haiden Schloithe – 16
Steven Verrier – 14
Ryan Cook – 13
Ben Saunders – 13

SUBIACO
Chris Phelan – 27
Liam Ryan – 19
Leigh Kitchin – 17*
Hamish Shepheard – 17
Clancy Wheeler – 15

SWAN DISTRICTS
Matt Riggio – 18*
Adam Faulkner – 17
Jesse Turner – 9
Aaron Elari – 7
Matthew Rogers – 5

WEST PERTH
Shane Nelson – 28
Aaron Black – 27*
Jay van Berlo – 26*
Rohan Kerr – 18
Luke Meadows – 16