DIVISION 1: COACHES’ MVP

by Peter Baird (Twitter: @frostybaird)

Who is the Best and Fairest of them all?

We will find out on Chandler Medal night who is judged by the Eastern Football League umpires to be the Best and Fairest in each division.

Ahead of the Chandler Medal, though, I caught up with each of the coaches from 2013 and asked them to nominate the three players from their division that were the most valuable this season.

These are not the guys the coaches necessarily are tipping to take home the medal on the big night, rather the players that provided the most headaches for opposition coaches, structure to their teams and the ones their own coaches relied upon. These were the players that were the most valuable in 2013.

Each coach was asked to provide three, two and one votes to the three most valuable players from their division.

The Chandler Medal is such a revered award that it is only awarded to champions of our competition.

This year may see a new champion crowned, with Balwyn’s Ryan McMahon setting the pace and being recognised as the most valuable player in Division 1 for 2013 according to the coaches.

McMahon’s experience, hardness at the ball and superb disposal was a driving reason behind the Tigers’ premiership glory. His ability to accumulate disposals in a star-studded Balwyn midfield was brilliant to behold.

Knox’s Luke Williams continued to win great respect and acclaim from the men in the coaches box, while Balwyn teammate Jeff Gobbels proved himself to be a damaging forward that always demanded attention.

East Ringwood ruckman, Andrew Renton, staked his claim in 2013 as the best big man in Division 1.

The final tally…