Tom Waters ended Lancefield's 49-year wait for a Bowen medallist in 2008, on Monday he made history again by taking home the medal for a second time.
Waters won his second Riddell District Football League best and fairest in three seasons after edging out Kilmore ruck-rover Matthew Robertson 30 votes to 29 on Monday night.
A three-vote performance against Melton Centrals in round 16 drew Waters level with Robertson at 28 votes each, before he edged in front 29-28 with one vote in Lancefield’s loss to Macedon in round 17.
Waters and Robertson both picked up the one vote in losing round 18 efforts, leaving the Lancefield ruckman on top by one.
The 23-year-old became the first Lancefield player to win the medal twice. Ray Russell (1952), Keith Shannon (1958) and Bernie Shannon (1959) are the other Tigers to have won the Bowen medal.
‘‘It’s an honour to win it,’’ Waters said.
‘‘I thought I wasn’t always the best on ground but at least fairly consistent, able to play my role for the team. No one game really stands out from the year.
‘‘With all the good on-ballers I have around me, they get the team up and going.
‘‘I had a few niggles last year but this year the body has felt really good. In pre-season we tried to keep that fire going after winning the premiership last year and we really knuckled down to try and do it again.’’
Having played his junior football with Bulleen Templestowe, it was Waters’ girlfriend Erin Smith and her brother Travis Smith, the Tigers’ vice captain, that recruited the ruckman to the Riddell league.
Waters played with the Oakleigh Chargers in TAC Cup and also with Port Melbourne in the VFL before returning to the VAFA for a season with Bulleen Templestowe in 2007.
Winning the league best-and-fairest in his first season at Lancefield was followed by premiership glory with the Tigers last year.
‘‘I always as a kid wanted to go and play country footy, the atmosphere and the guys around make the club and the league great.’’
Lancefield coach Kevin Fitzgerald was also a big factor in Waters getting the best out of himself.
‘‘He came back this year and said ‘you did well last year but there are still things you can work on’.
‘‘He’s always deadly honest with you telling you how you went.
‘‘Last time I won the medal it was a real surprise. I got home one day and my girlfriend showed me the paper with Fitzy saying ‘If Tom doesn’t win the Bowen medal this year there’s something wrong’ and I started to feel a bit of the pressure after that.’’
Fitzgerald said it was no surprise that Waters had won the count.
‘‘I thought he was outstanding all year, what a lot of people don’t realise is he plays on the ball all day. I think he sticks to the game plan very well, he’s a naturally talented footballer but he works so much harder than the average player.’’
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