Sebastopol Vikings’ Ryan Rykers was the runaway winner of the Ballarat and District Soccer Association division one best and fairest award.
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Rykers remained in front for most of the count after establishing a firm lead early.
He finished nine votes clear of runner-up Isaac Slater from Warrnmabool on 26, while Ballarat North United’s Jack Gaffney and Daylesford’s Dragi Koleski snuck in as equal third, polling 16 votes each.
Rykers, who is set to play in the grand final for Sebastopol, said he was surprised to have won the award.
While the Ballarat soccer veteran has captained the Vikings in the Football Federation Victoria state league five competition, he described the rise in standard upon returning to the BDSA as “unbelievable”.
“I last played in 2012 (in the BDSA) and I think the standard from there has really picked up, it has been hard every single week,” he said.
Meanwhile, Warrnambool’s Isobel Stewart took out the best and fairest award for division one women for the second consecutive year.
