Darley’s Steve Kennedy was voted the BFL’s last year, with Lake Wendouree onballer Steve Clifton next in the voting.

They have again had fine years as has 2014 winner Shane Hutchinson from Ballarat.

All three should poll well again. 

Kennedy has stood out even more this season in an under-performing Darley, but with the Devils not getting as many wins he might struggle to get enough best-on-grounds to finish on top of the count.

Clifton is at the other end of the spectrum. He has been consistent, but so too have many of his teammate with Lake Wendouree finishing on top.

VIEW THE TOP 20 IN PHOTOS HERE

The BFL will also name its team of the year on Monday night.

There are always one or two surprises in all-star line-ups, but expect the top half of the competition to dominate selection.

So as the Henderson Medal and team of the year come into play, I have chosen my BFL top 20.

Lake Wendouree marquee recruit Nick Peters is number one.

Peters crossed from North Ballarat Roosters in the VFL this year and although having an interrupted season with injury and suspension has been the spark in the Lakers’ engine room.

Fortunately his absence early in the season did not impact on Lake Wendouree’s progress and he has been instrumental in getting the Lakers through a late season rough patch and going into a preliminary final against Sunbury at the Eastern Oval on Saturday.

Another boom recruit Alik Magin at Sunbury is number two. The Lions were excited to pick up  the small former Gold Coast Suns-listed Magin and it has been easy to see why.

He has been a key reason Sunbury has worked its way from the bottom half of the top six to finishing in the top three.

Bacchus Marsh ruckman Daniel Burton rounds out the top three after a highly impressive first season with the Cobras.

1 NICK PETERS (Lake Wendouree): injury interrupted start to the season and then two suspensions limited his presence, but there is no doubting his class and the impact he has had in Lakers being the minor premier. 

2 ALIK MAGIN (Sunbury): slightly built, but pacy and smart user of the football. Rarely wastes a disposal – and he gets plenty of them – and has regularly been the player to spark Sunbury whenever it’s needed a lift.

3 DANIEL BURTON (Bacchus Marsh): has earned the ranking of the competition’s leading ruckman in his first year with the Cobras. Has been a dominant tap ruckman. His marking and work around the ground has made him a match-winner for the grand finalist.

4 STEVE KENNEDY (Darley): much tougher year for him with the Devils struggling, but there is no denying his class and influence, with him remaining a consistently strong performer and key to Darley sneaking into the finals.

5 DERICK MICALLEF (North Ballarat City): not only the BFL’s leading goalkicking, but also the most dynamic forward in the competition with explosive pace and uncanny ability to either kick special goals or provide an assist.

6 STEVE CLIFTON (Lake Wendouree): a powerhouse onballer who is just about impossible to stop once he has the football. Has been a major architect in the Lakers’ push to the top of the ladder. All class. 

7 NICK HIND (East Point): emerged through the inter-league campaign to be one of the competition’s best running defenders. An ankle injury sidelined him through the mid-season, but he quickly found his feet again on returning. Finished the year with Essendon in VFL.

8 BRETT GOODES (Sebastopol): great recruit straight out the AFL. Physical strength and reading of play made him a perfect on-field leader.

9 LANE BUCKWELL (Lake Wendouree): developed into the best key defender in competition – always getting the job on the most danger forward. Rarely lowered his colours. 

10 NATHAN HORBURY (Redan): always has plenty of time when he gets the ball and rarely wastes it. Had to fill various roles for the Lions, but whatever the job he was always influential.

11 JARRAH MAKSYMOW (Bacchus Marsh): arrived after start of the season and quickly showed his value as a goalkicking high forward. Powerfully built impact player hard to stop once he is up and going.  

12 BEN TAYLOR (Lake Wendouree): a smooth operator back with the Lakers this season, with his outside run and long kicking perfectly complementing the work of onball partners Nick Peters and Steve Clifton.  

13 JAKE GLEESON (Melton): never easy when a team is not winning consistently, but he was invaluable in every facet of the game as the Bloods pushed for finals.

14 DAVID KOVACEVIC (Sunbury): a ruckman who has grown in stature and rarely lowered his colours. The key to the success of the Lions’ running brigade.

15 SHANE HUTCHINSON (Ballarat): evergreen onballer who despite the Swans more often than not battling continued to find the football and in turn the target. 

16 LIAM HOY (Redan): only played a handful of games late, but quickly slotted in as Redan’s most important defensive stopper. The tougher the better it is for him.

17 DAMIAN CUPIDO (Bacchus Marsh): another late recruit and although now a veteran remains physically imposing and deadly in front of goal.

18 ALEX DEL PAPA (Bacchus Marsh): back with his home club and filled various roles after a year with Werribee in the VFL. Showed the ability to make an impact when most needed.  

19 PAUL KODERENKO (East Point): veteran ruckman who continues to be highly competitive. Tireless in his approach and often kept the Kangaroos in the game through his own efforts.

20 ANDREW PITSON (Lake Wendouree): only Derick Micallef kicked more goals this season. Strong on the lead and showed an uncanny knack to find the big sticks.

And after all that, who is my tip for the Henderson Medal.

I’ll go with Sunbury’s Alik Magin.