Three-peat for Wazza
AJAX young gun Warren Steinberg has taken out his third successive club best and fairest award, finishing one point ahead of hot favourite Evgeni Routman in the thrilling count.
AJAX young gun Warren Steinberg has taken out his third successive club best and fairest award, finishing one point ahead of hot favourite Evgeni Routman in the thrilling count.
With one round to go in the season, Routman led the seniors vice-captain by nine votes, but went overseas the week of the final game and missed out on polling.
In the Jackas’ 10-point loss to Beaumaris, Steinberg picked up 10 votes to take his overall total to 141, one ahead of Routman’s 140.
“It is an honour for me,” Steinberg told The AJN.
“It’s good to get acknowledged for a consistent season, and also when there’s not too much success on the field, it’s nice to be recognised off it.
“[Routman] was pretty exceptional this year, but I guess I was maybe a little bit more consistent than him.”
Steinberg, who also picked up the Lionel Rosenberg Seniors Coach’s Award, becomes only the fifth player in the club’s history to win the award at least three times.
Outgoing coach Bernie Sheehy was given the President’s Trophy for his four years of dedicated service to the club, and he received a standing ovation when accepting the award from president Ian Fayman.
“Bernie’s given us all he can,” Steinberg said.
“He always set a great example for the guys and had a clear message, but now he’s moving on.”
Routman, who picked up The AJN and Pratt Family Trophy, voted by the supporters, had one of his best seasons for the club and came up just short of his maiden win.
Rubin Winograd, who finished in the top three for the second year in a row, polled 110 votes and picked up the David Merkel Most Determined player award as well.
The Daryl Cohen Seniors Most Courageous player Marcus Jankie recorded 104 to finish fourth, while the John Brustman Golden Boot winner David Fayman rounded out the top five with 82 votes.
Young gun Jarryd Ludski took out the Reserves best and fairest award, followed by Ashley Kalb and co-captain Josh Gottlieb, while Adam Lerner and Roi Abraham were awarded the Reserves Coach’s Award.
AJAX also welcomed four new life members, including the club’s only coach to record back-to-back premierships Andrew Shenker; veteran runner, mentor and former Test cricket player Julien Wiener; 30-year honorary doctor Norm Eizenberg; and club father-figure Gary Blusztein.
AJN STAFF
comments