Ballard wins Tuckey Medal as Peel's best after Dockers delistingTuesday, October 13, 2015 - 1:33 AM - by Chris Pike

JACOB Ballard has capped a rollercoaster run of events that included his AFL debut and delisting by Fremantle by winning Peel Thunder's Tuckey Medal as the fairest and best player for the 2015 WAFL season.

Ballard has now put together two tremendous seasons continuing to develop as a tough and consistent midfielder who knocks up winning the ball.

After coming runner-up to captain Brendon Jones in the Tuckey Medal voting in 2014, he went up another level in 2015 to win the fairest and best award.

The 21-year-old cemented himself as one of the best midfielders in the competition in 2015 averaging 26.2 possessions a game and being equally effective in using his size and strength to win contested possessions, as he was to run hard and find space on the large WAFL grounds.

Ballard made his AFL debut for Fremantle in Round 23 against Port Adelaide meaning he missed Peel Thunder's first ever WAFL final against West Perth at HBF Arena, but he returned the next week for the maiden final at Bendigo Bank Stadium against East Perth.

The big bodied midfielder claimed the Tuckey Medal as fairest and best by polling 107 votes to win ahead of defender Josh Bootsma (89 votes) and rookie Fremantle midfielder Connor Blakely (76).

Captain Brendon Jones had another tremendous season for Peel reaching his 200-game milestone along the way and finally getting to play in the first final of his career, and he took home the Players' Player Award for 2015.

Another emerging Fremantle midfielder Brady Grey claimed the Most Consistent Player Award as he showed that he has the potential to be a regular AFL player of the future.

Gerald Ugle and Leroy Jetta were Peel's two prized recruits for the 2015 season and both were instrumental in the Thunder making the finals for the first time, and Ugle won the Coaches Award and Jetta was the leading goalkicker for the 2015 season.

Eddie Dann also received the Tom Stone Medal for overcoming adversity having fought his way back into the league side after horror season up to that point to be the captain for Peel's first ever finals appearance.

Meanwhile, Corey Morris claimed the reserves' fairest and best award for 2015 while also showing he could have a future in the league team with a particularly encouraging performance in the qualifying final loss to West Perth at HBF Arena.

Morris won the reserves fairest and best award ahead of Harrison Tyler who also received the call up for the league final against West Perth and showed enough to suggest he has a bright future at league level as well.

Cruize Garlett finished third in reserves fairest and best voting as the former North Melbourne midfielder tried to break into Peel's league side during 2015 while Jamahl Mulholland looks to be a player of the future and received the reserves Coaches Award.

Peel Thunder's colts ended up making it all the way to the preliminary final in 2015 before losing to Swan Districts to narrowly miss out on a grand final berth, and Michael Humble took out the fairest and best award as reward for his tremendous season.

Humble won the fairest and best for 2015 ahead of Keegan Power who will now look to step up and play senior football in 2016.

Jake Greenwell finished third in fairest and best voting with Haydn Matthews claiming the Players Player Award, Josh Webb the Encouragement Award and Josh Schoenfeld the Leadership Award.

Ian Johnson was named Peel Thunder's Best Club Person for 2015 while Sandy Yardley and Ray Ball were inducted as life members.

PEEL THUNDER LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS
Tuckey Medal (Fairest and Best) – Jacob Ballard
Runner-up Fairest and Best – Josh Bootsma
Third Fairest and Best – Connor Blakely
Players Player Award – Brendon Jones
Tom Stone Medal (Overcoming Adversity) – Eddie Dann
Most Consistent Player – Brady Grey
Leading Goalkicker – Leroy Jetta
Arthur Marshall Young Player of the Year – Brayden Lawler
Coaches Award – Gerald Ugle

RESERVES AWARD WINNERS
Ball Family Medal (Fairest and Best) – Corey Morris
Runner-up Fairest and Best – Harrison Tyler
Third Fairest and Best – Cruize Garlett
Coaches Award – Jamahl Mulholland

COLTS AWARD WINNERS
Fairest and Best – Michael Humble
Runner-up Fairest and Best – Keegan Power
Third Fairest and Best – Jake Greenwell
Players Player Award – Haydn Matthews
Past Player & Officials Encouragement Award – Josh Webb
Leadership Award – Josh Schoenfeld