A three-vote game in Clunes’ one and only victory of the Central Highlands Football League season lifted Ryan Thompson to The Courier footballer of the year award.
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Thompson had been locked in a tie with Ballan coach Jason McNamara and Bungaree onballer Joel Mahar after 16 rounds, but forged one vote clear with his performance in the Magpies’ win over Rokewood-Corindhap in the last match of the campaign.
McNamara collected two votes in the round 17 clash with Bungaree to finish outright second, while Mahar failed to poll and eventually tied for third with Learmonth onballer Brenton Powell.
Thompson played 16 games for the Magpies this year, booting seven goals.
Meanwhile, Buninyong has retained the Merv and Mary Howard Memorial Trophy as the league’s champion club of 2018.
The Bombers have been the most successful club through the home and away rounds for the past three seasons.
Results across all grades of football and netball count towards the honour.
Learmonth was second and Bungaree third.