Kane Lambert capped off an amazing year, with a runaway victory to claim the Laurie Hill Trophy as the Northern Blues Best and Fairest at Rydges Bell City Preston on Friday.
Lambert was last year runner-up to great friend Adam Marcon by just five votes, but was in no doubt of collecting the prize this year when he shot out to a 27-vote lead after the first ten rounds of voting.
Lambert continued to poll consistently, widening the gap to finish with a club record 139 votes.
He finished 85 votes clear of runner-up Tom Bell (54 votes) and third place-getter Nick Graham (48 votes).
The Laurie Hill voting system is based upon three match committee members voting on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale, with the total number of votes a player can receive in one match being 15.
With 285 the highest number of votes an individual player could receive in the season, Lambert’s effort to poll nearly half of the maximum votes was remarkable in a truly dominant season.
The victory puts a strain on his trophy cabinet as he adds to a Big V jersey, the Fothergill-Round Medal as the VFL Rising Star, a spot on the wing in the 2013 VFL Team of the Year and fourth placing in the J.J Liston Trophy as the VFL League Best and Fairest.
On stage with Lambert as he received the Best and Fairest from Preston Football Club legend, Laurie Hill, Northern Blues coach Luke Webster was full of praise for what the midfielder has achieved in 2013.
“It’s a tremendous effort for a young kid to continually evolve his game and to learn week-in, week-out and also year-in, year-out,” Webster said.
“We’re all aware of what Kane’s been able to achieve this season, it’s been a terrific effort.
“I have no doubt you’ll get your opportunities at AFL level, wherever that may be. We wish you all the best.”
Upon acceptance, Lambert said he’d been “overwhelmed” with the support he’d had over the past few months.
“I’d like to thank everyone for their support. To my family and friends and of course to the Northern Blues Football Club,” Lambert said.
“I’d like to thank Laurie for the trophy. I hope that one day I’ll be able to follow your footsteps in my own career.
“Thank you to ‘Webby’ for the confidence that you’ve had in me. I really enjoyed the change-up in my roles on the field and I credit you for that belief you had in me.”
Lambert lastly acknowledged all of his teammates, singling out great mate, Adam Marcon.
“I probably don’t thank him enough, but I’m forever grateful for what this guy has done.
“I’ve been very privileged and lucky to have someone with the same vision and I think together, we’ve spurred each other on to great heights.”
Earlier in the night, Lambert tied with Tom Wilson to take out the Jamie Shaw Trophy as the club leading goalkicker. Both Lambert and Wilson booted 20 goals for the season.
Lambert took part in the AFL Draft State Combine testing at Etihad Stadium on Saturday – the last of the Draft Camp testing in Victoria before the NAB AFL Draft.
(Photo: Dave Savell)
