Brock O'Brien wins Lynn Medal as Sharks' best for 2015Tuesday, October 13, 2015 - 12:44 AM - by Chris Pike

BROCK O'Brien cemented himself as one of the most valuable players in the WAFL in 2015 whether in attack or running off half-back, and that has been acknowledged with the left-footer winning the Lynn Medal as East Fremantle's fairest and best winner.

The 2015 season might not have turned out as the Sharks hoped coming off last year's preliminary final appearance with a run of 12 straight matches up until the final round, including Brad Dodd replacing Steve Malaxos as coach, meaning it wasn’t the campaign they were hoping for.

However, the one great shining light was the performance of Brock O'Brien first as a an attacking half-back in the first half of the season where his ability to find plenty of the ball, and to kick with great depth and precision setting up East Fremantle from the back half.

That was the role that he had played for the majority of his career, including early on both at Fremantle and Peel Thunder, but it was as a forward when he starred in East Fremantle's grand final run in 2012 and that's where he returned in the second half of the 2015 season.

And he did so with great effect usually as East Fremantle's main focal point in attack and ended up booting 20 goals in the last seven matches of the season.

That included five against Perth in Round 19 at Lathlain Park and five more in the final game of the season against the Demons when the Sharks ended their losing run in style with a victory to farewell retiring big man Rob Young in what was also Brock's older brother Rory's 200th match in the WAFL.

Brock O'Brien ended up winning the Lynn Medal comfortably at the fairest and best awards night on Friday as he continues to make the most of his move to East Fremantle once he was delisted by Fremantle, and elected to join the Sharks rather than return to the Thunder.

He is now a three-time East Fremantle leading goalkicker and after finishing runner-up in the fairest and best voting to Rory last year, is a Lynn Medallist for the first time with the 27-year-old resisting tempting offers from rival WAFL clubs to have now re-signed with the Sharks for the next two seasons.

Midfielder Jamie McNamara had a tremendously consistent season for East Fremantle and was runner-up in Lynn Medal voting after averaging 24.5 possessions a game in 2015 in the same year that the 27-year-old brought up his 100-game milestone with the Sharks.

Cameron Eardley backed up his tremendous first year in 2014 with East Fremantle after his time in the AFL with Geelong by having an even better 2015 with the emerging midfielder coming third in fairest and best voting after averaging 20.4 disposals.

Retiring big man Rob Young capped off his tremendous career at East Fremantle since arriving from Coburg in 2007 by coming fourth in Lynn Medal voting. He ends his career at the Sharks on 170 matches and was honoured on Friday night along with fellow retirees Mark McGough and Bradd Dalziell.

Former three-time Lynn Medallist and 2012 Sandover Medal Rory O'Brien came fifth in fairest and best voting for 2015 with the captain having had another strong season in a tough year for the Sharks.

Danny Chartres, Liam Anthony, Boston Williamson, Sam Read and Matthew Jupp rounded out the top 10 voting in the Lynn Medal for 2015 and all are set to play a key role in East Fremantle's resurgence in 2016 under new coach Rob Wiley.

Williamson was also presented with the Rising Star award while Jupp received the Bendigo Bank Community Award and Jacob Green was named the Best First Year Player.

Aaron Holmes won the reserves fairest and best award for 2015 winning the Henry Jeffery Medal with Dion Anthony coming runner-up, Josh Cuneo third for a second straight year, Matt Baseden fourth and Barry Barone fifth. All five played some league football in 2015 and will look for more opportunities next year.

East Fremantle's colts was the club's only team to qualify for the finals in 2015 losing to West Perth in the elimination final at HBF Arena, and it was Fraser Perry who was named the fairest and best winner, taking out the Allan Trott Medal.

Perry showed some exciting signs at league level in 2015 as well but still won the colts fairest and best ahead of Jesse Adamini, Kyle Baskerville, Michael Cronan and Oliver Parish.

East Fremantle's women's team was also presented with their awards on Friday night with Brianna Green named the fairest and best ahead of Caitlyn Edwards who was also named the Player of the Finals.

Len Anderson was also named the Best Clubman receiving the Barrie John Memorial Award while Phil Elliott was named Volunteer of the Year receiving the Bob Fairclough Memorial Award.

LYNN MEDAL TOP 10
Winner – Brock O'Brien 
Jamie McNamara
Cameron Eardley
Rob Young
Rory O'Brien
Danny Chartres
Liam Anthony
Boston Williamson
Sam Read
Matthew Jupp

OTHER LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS
Best First Year Player – Jacob Green
Patrons Rising Star – Boston Williamson
Leading Goalkicker – Brock O'Brien
Leadership Group's Best Clubman – Adrian Ricciardello
Bendigo Bank Community Award – Matthew Jupp

RESERVES AWARD WINNERS
Henry Jeffery Medal (fairest and best) – Aaron Holmes
Runner-up fairest and best – Dion Anthony
Third fairest and best – Josh Cuneo
Fourth fairest and best – Matt Baseden
Fifth fairest and best – Barry Barone

COLTS AWARD WINNERS
Allan Trott Medal (colts fairest and best) – Fraser Perry
Runner-up fairest and best – Jesse Adamini
Third fairest and best – Kyle Baskerville
Fourth fairest and best – Michael Cronan
Fifth fairest and best – Oliver Parish
Best First Year Player – Josef Hebiton
Most Dedicated Player – Tom Marshall
One Percenter Award – Nick Menegola
Past Players & Officials Encouragement Award – Connor Liddelow