Sunbury Lions coach Rick Horwood decided to challenge Mathew Medcraft last offseason to take his game to the next level in the Ballarat Football League.
Medcraft, who made his senior debut in 2010, had made his name for himself as a small forward.
“I sat down with him at the start of the season and took him through footage from the last five years and how I would coach against him,” Horwood said.
“I pinpointed what coaches would do against him and what he was doing wrong. It raised expectations of what we expected from him as he was now becoming a senior player in the team.”
Horwood’s decision proved to be the right one with Medcraft winning the Lions best and fairest award for the first time on weekend.
“We challenged him on what we wanted him to become,” Horwood said.
“He worked on his fitness and kicking, and we played him more in the middle and he became our number one rover.
“He became more team orientated and worked on his defensive game to become a more rounded player.”
For Medcraft said the conversation with Horwood at the start of the season was a bit of an eye opener.
“I wasn’t taking footy serious enough and wasn’t working hard enough,” Medcraft admits.
“I asked Rick if I could have more of a run in the midfield and he said I had to get fitter.
“It was good incentive to do the hard work. I played there most of the year.”
The best and fairest win comes after Medcraft finished second in the 2013 count. He had led the count going into the grand final, before losing by one vote.
“It was a bit of a surprise and I was pretty stoked,” he said,
“A few of the boys had a good year and there was no favourite. I’ve always wanted to win a best and fairest at Sunbury.
“It is good to be taken seriously and not always be the larrikin, I wanted to prove that I can play footy.”
Despite spending more time in the middle he still finished second in the Lions goal kicking.
“Everyone loves kicking a goal. If I’m in range, I’m not going to pass it off.”
Medcraft who may move interstate for work next year, said he would be playing for the Lions if he remains in Melbourne.
“There’s still a lot of work to do on with my game.”
Horwood said he would look to use the same method he did with Medcraft with other players next season.
Ruckman David Kovacevic finished five votes behind Medcraft..
“Kova won the medal last year,” Horwood said.
“He didn’t hit his straps until midway through the season.
“He was instrumental in Matty winning the award with his dominant ruck work.”
Tom Donoghue in his first year with the club finished third.
“He adapted to the different standard really well,” Horwood said.
“He did drop off towards the end of the season when he had a couple of injuries. It’s a good platform for next year, being he is only 18.”
