Midfielder Filo snared the Morris Medal on 25 votes from Myrtleford big man Matt Dussin (20) and 2016 winner, Yarrawonga on-baller Tyler Bonat (19).

It comes 12 months after a broken jaw wrecked Filo’s medal hopes following a dazzling debut season.

“It does mean a lot winning individual awards, but I’d rather be playing next weekend for a grand final,” he said.

The 28-year-old is only the second Raider to win the league’s top individual award after Dustin Burns shared it with Yarrawonga’s Tim Hargreaves in 2002.

Raiders, who were knocked out in Sunday’s preliminary final by premiers Wangaratta, joined the league in 1989.

Filo arrived in the league after a stunning six months.

He won the Bendigo League’s Michelsen Medal in September, 2015, and followed it with the Northern Territory’s Nichols Medal.

When he signed, Raiders’ coach Daryn Cresswell called him the equivalent of any midfielder he’s seen at this level, while fellow star Jydon Neagle labelled him last season the best kick he’s ever played with, an enormous compliment given the 24-year-old has played VFL.

And Myrtleford co-coach Terry Burgess also compared him with the league’s greatest modern-day players.

At the halfway mark, Filo was equal fourth on nine votes, behind team-mate Jarrod Hodgkin and Bonat (11), with Albury’s Shaun Daly on 10.

It was a six-week blinding spell from round 11 which set up the win, snaring 14 votes.

Bonat was four back on 19, but didn’t poll in the final three rounds, while Filo nabbed two in the final game against Yarrawonga. 

Filo kicked a handful of goal of the year contenders.