Historic win as Priddis adds Brownlow to SandoverTuesday, September 23, 2014 - 10:16 AM

West Coast Eagles player Matt Priddis has become the first player since Haydn Bunton snr to win both a Sandover Medal and Brownlow Medal.

Priddis, who won the WAFL’s Sandover Medal playing for Subiaco Football Club in 2006 with an equal record of 58 votes, claimed the Brownlow Medal with 26 votes after leading the AFL for handballs and total disposals in 2014, ranking No.2 for clearances and No.3 for tackles.

He joins Haydn Bunton snr (Brownlow Medallist 1931, 32, 35 and Sandover Medallist 1938, 39, 41) as the only player to win both medals.

Priddis also becomes the first West Australian born player to win both medals and the first player to win the Brownlow Medal after being drafted as a rookie.

Priddis acknowledged and thanked Subiaco Football Club and former coach Peter German during his Brownlow Medal acceptance speech for the role each had played in his development.

“I was overlooked in four national drafts, and the Subiaco Football Club and Peter German were massive in my development,” he said.

“They just told me to play to my strengths and that’s all I’ve really tried to do. I can’t thank them enough for giving me a start.”

Photo: Matt Priddis with the 2006 Sandover Medal