Sandover Medal a reward for O'Brien's dedicationThursday, September 19, 2013 - 4:49 PM - by Chris Pike

RORY O'Brien became East Fremantle's first Sandover Medallist in 15 years and the second player to win WA football's most prestigious individual honour as he was rewarded his hard work and dedication to improve his game on Monday night.

O'Brien was always a prolific ball winner in his 92 games with Peel between 2005 and 2010, with a year off in South Australia in 2008 in between, but his game has gone up another game since moving to East Fremantle ahead of the 2011 season.

Team-wise that has also seen him get to play in a WAFL and Foxtel Cup grand final as a massive part of the Sharks' line-up the last three years.

In 63 games in the WAFL for East Fremantle, O'Brien has averaged over 27 possessions while also being a key player in three Foxtel Cup matches in 2013 and winning the 2011 Lynn Medal, and likely the club's fairest and best award this year to go with his two he won with Peel also.

By the end of the count on Monday night, O'Brien had amassed 55 votes to give him the second highest ever tally in Sandover Medal history behind the 58 polled by both Claremont's Kane Mitchell in 2012 and Subiaco's Matt Priddis in 2006.

He averaged over 31 possessions a game in 2013 with the umpires taking a shine to his style of play not only by awarding 62 free kicks while only giving 19 against him, but also awarding him votes in 14 of his 20 matches throughout the season.

Despite the pride he felt in winning the Sandover Medal, the 27-year-old was in shock when announced as the recipient for 2013.

"This was a complete shock. It's such a prestigious award and I never thought my name would go together with it," O'Brien said.

"I was shocked at the first half of the year because I didn’t think I played that great a footy, but obviously the umpire's thought different so I think them for that. To be honest I was nervous all night and I wasn’t expecting to win."

O'Brien didn’t necessarily give himself much chance of winning heading into the count on Monday night with Claremont's Jake Murphy and Mark Seaby, and East Perth's Paul Johnson and Brendan Lee all good chances, but his nerves did rise after a strong start meant he led from the outset.

"I'm not sure when it will sink in, maybe in a couple of years I'm not sure but I'm definitely honoured to be part of that club now," he said.

"I was a little bit nervous coming here but I didn’t expect to win. Jake Murphy and Paul Johnson had outstanding years and Claremont won 17 games and East Perth finished off the season well so I thought those two would be right up there."

O'Brien was always a good midfielder in poor teams in his 92-game career at Peel, but without question he has become fitter and stronger, and worked on developing a more well-rounded game in his three years at East Fremantle.

He credits coach Steve Malaxos and captain Mark McGough for much of that.

"I have to thank the East Fremantle Football Club for taking me on board three years ago. I know it was because they wanted to get Brock and I was the little half that came with him, but I am grateful for the opportunity and it has been tremendous. I have loved my last three years of football," he said.

"I have to say that my coach Steve Malaxos has had a huge influence because he's been very hard on me trying to take my game to another level. Mark McGough, though, has probably been my biggest help. We are so competitive and try to beat each other all the time at training."

While the East Fremantle Football Club and his coaches and teammates mean a lot to O'Brien, he knows he couldn’t be doing on the field what he is without the support of his wife Ebony and the couple's 15-month-old daughter.

"My wife has been through it all with me, bad games and good games, travelling up to East Fremantle while still living Mandurah but I can't thank her enough for her support," O'Brien said.

"The difference between this year and previous years is that we had a baby girl 15 months and she really makes you think there is more to life than football. She has definitely relaxed me a lot more so I take it off to my wife and daughter for being there to support me."