MOYHU youngster Nathan Waite has become the first Hopper to win the Baker Medal in four years after collecting the league best-and-fairest award in a tight vote count at Wangaratta Gateway last night.
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Despite playing just 16 games, the forward-midfielder collected 21 votes to finish two clear of Hoppers teammate Jaimon McGeehan and three clear of Greta playing coach Dan McLaughlin.
Former Wangaratta Magpies player Waite, 21, booted 41 goals in a season interrupted by a serious ankle injury and went into the last round leading McLaughlin by three votes but neither polled votes in games against Bonnie Doon and Whorouly, respectively, on Saturday.
McGeehan collected three votes in the last round to move up to runner-up.
Waite becomes the first Moyhu player to win the award since Anthony Welsh, who polled well for Tatong, in 2007, and breaks a two-year strangehold on the award by Bright skipper Steve Nightingale.
In the reserves, Milawa’s Justin Keane was a clear winner from Swanpool’s David Whitechurch.
Keane collected 27 votes, with Whitechurch finishing on 22 to grab runner-up.
The seniors goalkicking was a tie, with Benalla All Blacks forward Duane Haebich and Milawa counterpart Daniel Lewis both finishing on 108 goals after the home-and-away rounds.
