Ban haunts Nick

Holman said he had a suspicion his two-game suspension against Wodonga Raiders early in the season would cost him, and it did, big time.

The utility polled the most votes – 23 – but was ineligible to win, with Mackie polling 22 votes to win his second league best and fairest award.

“Everyone jumps around you saying, ‘You’ve won it, you’ve won it’, but deep down you know silly things have cost you,” Holman said.

“You don’t play footy for this kind of stuff.

“You know yourself if you’ve played a good season.

“I am happy with that.

“Joel gets the medal, but you can look back and know you’ve had a good season.”

Holman is the first player to poll the most votes, but be ineligible to win the Morris Medal because of suspension, since Albury’s John Smith in 1974.

Smith polled 16 votes, one more than Corowa’s Alan Way, who received the medal when Smith was ruled ineligible because of a six-match suspension from the previous year’s grand final.

Asked what Smith would say to Holman, he said: “I’d say he’s stiff.

“It’s a pity for the young fella.

“Mine was a long time ago, but it’s different circumstances.”

Holman, who played in Lavington’s one-point grand final win over Myrtleford in 2005, enjoyed his best season at Bunton Park.

The 28-year-old, who’s also spent time at Swan Districts, booted 19 goals from 17 games and was included in the initial O and M interleague squad.

Holman didn’t expect to win the Morris Medal, but was proud of his season.

“I’ve got ex-AFL blokes out there and you don’t expect my name in these kinds of things,” he said.

“I am Nick Holman, that’s played one season at North Albury since I’ve been back.

“You expect those (bigger-name) guys to win it.

”Joel’s a quality player and we’ve been through a bit, playing in ’08 at Jindera.

“I couldn’t wish anyone else, bar him, to win it in that kind of situation.”