Kerang spearhead Bryce Curnow capped off a remarkable first season with the Blues on Monday night, taking home the Jack Betts Medal as the Central Murray Football Netball League’s Best and Fairest player.
In an award usually dominated by on-ballers, Curnow became the first non-midfielder to win the Jack Betts since Tooleybuc-Manangatang ruckman Ryan O’Sullivan in 2014.
With his win, Curnow also became just the fourth Kerang player to win the award, joining Shaun Filo, Brent Forsyth and Chris Gibson as former Blues winners.
Curnow jumped out of the blocks, polling eleven votes in the first five rounds to take an early lead. He then followed up with best on ground performances against Tyntynder in Round 11 and Koondrook-Barham in Round 7 to seal the win with 17 votes.
Unfortunately, the big story of the night wasn’t the victory by Curnow, but that he polled the same number of votes as Cohuna Kangas midfielder Joel Helman; with a Round 10, two-week suspension ruling Helman ineligible to win the award for a second time, having previously taken home the Jack Betts in 2018.
“I was certainly very shocked – it’s not normally a forwards award and I honestly couldn’t believe it when it fell my way because there are a lot more deserving players out there,” Curnow told The Guardian this week.
“I’m someone that’s always striving more towards team success and to be honest, I would have loved to have finished the season and have the chance to play off for a premiership; but on a personal level, it’s an amazing honor to win such a prestigious award – I’m still quite shocked that I won to be honest.”
“I actually didn’t tune into the vote count until late; a few of the boys were messaging in our players group chat saying I might be a chance and then I turned it on. “I really didn’t know I had won until they announced the placings at the end – when it actually fell my way, I was in shock to be honest,” Curnow said.
“Obviously, Joel Helman had an incredible year as well and it’s a shame that I couldn’t share it with him because I think he’s just an unbelievable player.
“It’s great to watch the way he goes about it, just his clearance work, the way he follows up and his gut running – to tie with him is incredible but at the same time it’s a shame that I’m unable to share it with him because he’d certainly be a worthy winner,” Curnow said.
Swan Hill big man Toby Thoolen was declared the runner-up with 13 votes, with Woorinen’s Arnold Kirby two votes behind in third.
Swan Hill co-coach Matthew Wade and Tyntynder excitement machine Marcus Wattie rounded out the top five on nine votes each.
Curnow also took home the Seniors Leading Goalkicker award after booting 45 goals from nine games, with the full-forward clearly enjoying his time in his first season in the Central Murray.
“I absolutely loved it, there’s lots of really big grounds which probably suits my game and I’ve come into a pretty well-rounded team – plus the people at Kerang were so welcoming and so family orientated, it’s just a great community,” Curnow said.
“I knew ‘Coatsey’ (Troy Coates) from playing with him at Strathfieldsaye and I helped him out with a bit of coaching there; I loved playing under him and it was a massive attraction to sort of come along to Kerang.”
“I’ve also got family up Kerang way and I’ve known a lot of the boys for a long time – I actually really enjoyed getting out of the Bendigo bubble and going to play footy somewhere else, plus the weather’s a lot nicer up that way too.”
Curnow is in no rush to leave Kerang either, having recently signed on to co-coach the Blues alongside Coates next season, with Jesse Clark to set to remain at Kerang as Senior Assistant Coach.
Curnow was also quick to heap praise on his teammates and the club that has clearly left a very positive impression on him.
“The Kerang footy club have been just amazing, they’ve been so welcoming to my wife and I and I really can’t thank them enough,” Curnow said.
“I’ve loved it there and I can’t wait for next season – I also want to thank ‘Coatsey’ and Jesse and all my teammates as well as the league and the umpires for all their hard work in what has no doubt been a challenging year.”
