Nelson claims second Breckler Medal as West Perth fairest and bestFriday, October 3, 2014 - 11:26 PM - by Chris Pike

STAR West Perth midfielder Shane Nelson has claimed his second Breckler Medal as the Falcons' fairest and best player taking out the award on his own in 2014 narrowly winning ahead of Jay van Berlo, Laine Rasmussen and Sandover Medallist Aaron Black.

The 21-year-old on-baller had another outstanding season with West Perth and was presented with his second straight Breckler Medal at Joondalup's HBF Arena on Friday night.

Despite his averaging 31.1 possessions a game throughout the year as the WAFL's leading ball winner, it was a tight fairest and best vote count for the 2014 season.

Nelson finished on 114 votes to be only one ahead of co-captain van Berlo and the emerging Rasmussen who both finished on 113 votes as runner's-up. Sandover Medal winner Black finished in third-place on 108 votes.

The Breckler Medal victory is reward for Nelson of his continued outstanding form as the best ball winner in the WAFL.

In the premiership season of 2013, he also shared the Breckler Medal with Andrew Strijk but now he has claimed the fairest and best award in his own right for his efforts in 2014.

Nelson's consistent ball winning ability right throughout the season was remarkable. His season low came in Round 5 against South Fremantle but aside from that he never had fewer than 21 possessions a game.

The 2014 State representative had 30 or more possessions on 13 occasions including 52 in Round 23, 44 in Round 19, 38 in Round 2, 37 in Round 1 and Round 14.

Van Berlo is also a past Breckler Medallist having won in 2008 and he led the Falcons from the front throughout 2014 to end up only one vote from being a dual fairest and best as well.

Rasmussen is another league premiership player from 2013 who took another step forward in 2014 both as a small defender and then in the last month of the season an on-baller, and his efforts were recognised by also only finishing one vote off being a Breckler Medallist.

Black is just weeks removed from his Sandover Medal victory and he was right in the running to add the Breckler Medal to that in 2014, but the 21-year-old midfielder ended up in third place and six votes behind his good friend Nelson who ended up second to him in the Sandover Medal count.

Rohan Kerr has now had two outstanding seasons since joining West Perth and after kicking five goals in the 2013 grand final, he starred right throughout 2014 mostly on a wing averaging 25.9 disposals a game. He ended up coming fourth in the Breckler Medal voting.

Cameron Branch received the City of Joondalup Best Clubman Award after captaining the reserves to its first premiership since 1960 and also playing his 153rd, and final game with West Perth in the process in the grand final victory.

Retiring greats Dan Hunt and Anthony Tsalikis were also honoured on the night with Tsalikis taking out his sixth leading goalkicker award.

Marcus Adams was named the Santana Electrical Rising Star for his terrific season both as a key forward and defender in his first year with West Perth while debutant Mitch van Berlo received the Coach's Award and Steve Potente the Wayne Dayman Courage Award.

Meanwhile, the reserves premiership winning team was honoured at HBF Arena and Aidan Lynch was given the Roy Ennis Medal as the fairest and best winner backing up taking out the Prendergast Medal as the WAFL's best reserves player for 2014.

Ben McNamara was runner-up to the reserves fairest and best award with James Embley coming third and Blake Wilhelm receiving the reserves coach's award.

The colts award winners were also presented on Friday night with Will Michell taking out the Dominish Medal as the fairest and best winner for the 2014 season.

Troy Manners was runner-up to the fairest and best award followed by Dean Munns while Matt Douglas was named the most promising player, Michael Ashfield given the award of excellence, Josh Nolan the coach's award and Angus Allen the Past Player's encouragement award.

LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS
Breckler Medal (fairest and best winner) – Shane Nelson
Runner-up fairest and best – Jay van Berlo, Laine Rasmussen
Ken Ashdown Memorial Award (third fairest and best) – Aaron Black
Past Player's Award (fourth fairest and best) – Rohan Kerr
Santana Electrical Rising Star – Marcus Adams
League Coach's Award – Mitch van Berlo
City of Joondalup Best Clubman Award – Cameron Branch
Wayne Dayman Courage Award – Steve Potente
Ray Scott Memorial Award (leading goalkicker) – Anthony Tsalikis
Townshend Financial Solutions Sacrificial Act Award – Laine Rasmussen

RESERVES AWARD WINNERS
Roy Ennis Medal (fairest and best) – Aidan Lynch
Runner-up fairest and best – Ben McNamara
Past Player's Award (third fairest and best) – James Embley
Reserves Coach's Award – Blake Wilhelm

COLTS AWARD WINNERS
Dominish Medal (fairest and best) – Will Michell
Rosa Townsend Award (runner-up fairest and best) – Troy Manners
Past Player's Award (third fairest and best) – Dean Munns
Jack Appleby Trophy (most promising) – Matt Douglas
Life Members Award (award of excellence) – Michael Ashfield
Colts Coach's Award – Josh Nolan
Past Player's Encouragement Award – Angus Allen

OTHER AWARD WINNERS
Carbone/De Vita Award – Trent Manzone
Ross McMillan Volunteer of the Year – Sean King