Three years after coming out of retirement, Dave Kettle clinched his first Wilston Grange best and fairest.
Kettle pipped captain, Steve Brittain, at the post in a thrilling count, with the nuggetty midfielder standing out in the wet conditions of the final rounds.
“I was lucky he (Brittain) had a few games off,” he joked.
“The way that I play probably came out more this year, an in and under hard ball player – that showed we close a couple of players that were similar style players, so me coming
In his third season at the club, Kettle has a lot to thank the Gorillas for, joining the club when he moved to Brisbane with his then girlfriend.
“I moved up with an ex-girlfriend and I’d retired in 2009, after winning a grand final in Morphett Vale,” he said.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better club to go.
“I think (the footy club) just gave me a whole new lease on life, they helped me get through it. Footy clubs tend to do that.
“We would all do anything for each other on and off the field, I think.”
Kettle was taken aback by how significant the win was to him.
“When my name read out, I was just really humbled from the whole experience and honoured to get it,” he said.
“I was actually surprised how deep I felt it in me when my name actually got read out.
“One of the trophies had the list of past winners on it and when I looked at that, it just gave me an immense sense of pride.
The 32 year-old is the oldest on the Gorillas list and was set on retiring for a second time this season, but this win could turn his mind around, if his coach has anything to do with it.
‘After I won, Trow (Matt Trewhella) sent me a text basically saying, ‘It’s funny, you can’t retire now’,” he said.
“I’ll just see how pre-season goes.
Brittain took out the players’ player award, while Hugh Campbell won the Caoches’ award.
Fullback, Anthony Penny was rewarded for his strong season, with the Most Improved award, while ruckman Jim McMahon took out Most Consistent.
