ONE’S a goal-kicking midfielder with the flashy, orange boots.
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The other’s a proven vote-getter who leads by example on the field.
Together, Christian Burgess and Brad Murray formed one of the best midfield combinations in the Ovens and Murray. So good, Saints co-coach Leigh Corcoran can’t split the pair when it comes to his tip for the Morris Medal.
Burgess put together one of the great seasons on the ball, kicking 44 goals as Myrtleford surged into its first finals series in a decade.
His individual high-point, strangely enough, came in a loss when he kicked five goals from the midfield as the Saints took it right up to a star-studded Albury outfit in round 13.
Burgess would become the Saints’ 11th Morris medallist if he saluted on Monday night and would follow in the footsteps of his uncle, Terry, who won the award in 1983.
Murray, who claimed the league’s top honour in 2005, was named the Saints’ best player on seven occasions during the season.
“I can’t split them,” Corcoran said.
“Christian has taken his game to another level. His midfield work has been awesome, but his ability to go forward and kick goals was something we encouraged.
“He takes pride in his preparation and approach to the game. He’s put in the effort and really developed and innovated his game.
“‘Muzz’ is uncompromising in the way he goes about his footy, he leads from the front, and he’s polled well in the past when we’ve only won five or six games. We won 11 this year and he got better as the year went on.”
Burgess and Murray are likely to face stiff competition from Albury ace Daniel Cross, Wodonga ruckman Matt Seiter and Lavington star Luke Garland. Cross may have only played eight home and away matches but it wouldn’t come as a total surprise if he polled 24 votes.
Myrtleford Morris medallists
- N. Currie (1957), J. Deane (1958 and 1961), B. Waite (1972), M. Andrews (1976), R. Page (1977), P. Howard (1979 and 1980), T. Burgess (1983), M. Lambertini (1998), B. Murray (2005), K. Height (2014)
Who the coaches tipped
SHAUN DALY (Albury)
1. C. Burgess (Myrtleford)
2. M. Grossman (Wangaratta)
3. S. Gaston (Wangaratta Rovers)
DANIEL MAHER (Albury)
1. C. Burgess (Myrtleford)
2. D. Cross (Albury)
3. M. Seiter (Wodonga)
TERRY BURGESS (Corowa-Rutherglen)
1. C. Burgess (Myrtleford)
2. B. Murray (Myrtleford)
3. D. Cross (Albury)
JAMES SAKER (Lavington)
1. C. Hyde (Albury)
2. L. Garland (Lavington)
3. B. Murray (Myrtleford)
BRAD MURRAY (Myrtleford)
1. C. Burgess (Myrtleford)
2. L. Garland (Lavington)
3. M. Seiter (Wodonga)
LEIGH CORCORAN (Myrtleford)
1. C. Burgess and B. Murray (Myrtleford)
3. M. Seiter (Wodonga)
JASON AKERMANIS (North Albury)
1. B. Murray (Myrtleford)
2. T. Bonat (Yarrawonga)
3. D. Brew (North Albury)
BRENDAN CAIRNS (Wangaratta)
1. C. Burgess (Myrtleford)
2. M. Seiter (Wodonga)
3. E. Powell (Albury)
SAM CARPENTER (Wangaratta Rovers)
1. B. Murray (Myrtleford)
2. D. Cross (Albury)
3. L. Garland (Lavington)
ANDY HILL (Wangaratta Rovers)
1. B. Murray (Myrtleford)
2. M. Sharp (Lavington)
3. T. Bonat (Yarrawonga)
DEAN HARDING (Wodonga)
1. M. Seiter (Wodonga)
2. D. Cross (Albury)
3. B. Murray (Myrtleford)
DARYN CRESSWELL (Wodonga Raiders)
1. C. Burgess (Myrtleford)
2. D. Cross (Albury)
3. M. Sharp (Lavington)
CHRIS KENNEDY (Yarrawonga)
1. C. Burgess (Myrtleford)
2. B. Murray (Myrtleford)
3. L. Garland (Lavington)
DREW BARNES (Yarrawonga)
1. B. Murray (Myrtleford)
2. J. Neagle (Wodonga Raiders)
3. T. Bonat (Yarrawonga)