Greenwood joins Riverland greats

by ROB McLEAN

LOXTON centreman Mal Greenwood joined the Riverland's footballing greats by winning the Whillas Medal on Monday night.

Greenwood, who returned to the Riverland last season after stints with SANFL clubs West Adelaide and Glenelg, was hot favourite for the award and the tipsters proved correct, as he polled 20 votes to easily win the medal.

Greenwood, 21, admitted to feeling the pressure of being favourite prior to the count, which was held at the Berri Resort Hotel.

"All of the pressure didn't help, I was just hoping to get to the count and get it out of the way," Greenwood said. "It's certainly a great honour. It's one of the most prestigious awards you can get."

Greenwood polled votes in 10 games and was named best on ground in two matches.

He finished five votes ahead of three time winner Craig Griffiths, from Waikerie, while Loxton's Brett Hudson, Loxton North captain Craig Wooldridge and Waikerie's Nathan Tape tied for third place with 12 votes each.

In his acceptance speech, Greenwood thanked his parents Shane and Vicki, his team-mates, supporters and Loxton Football Club president Colin Edwards. He said the support he has received from his parents has been outstanding.

"It was good to have my parents here tonight because when something like this comes along you want to share it with them," Greenwood said. "They are there every week, all through the season."

Greenwood also intimated that the medal win secures his playing future at Loxton. "I guess I won't be leaving there now," he said.

His Whillas victory follows team-mate Daniel Evans' surprise medal win last season.

With a preliminary final against local rivals Loxton North to prepare for this Saturday, Greenwood said his focus will be on what the team can achieve, rather than his individual award.

"It's something I will look back on in 10 years time and it will mean more," Greenwood said.

"But the job's not done right now and there's still 21 other medals to get for the rest of the boys yet."

Greenwood is the 12th Loxton player to win the Whillas Medal. He is also the third player, after Roger Nettle and Roger Winter, to have won both the Whillas Medal and Peter Frankcom best first year player award.

Meanwhile, Wunkar's Shane Schulz made it a record breaking evening by winning his fourth Independent A grade best and fairest award Schulz, who made a rare appearance at the presentation night, polled 19 votes to win a close count from East Murray star Mark McConnell (18 votes).

The utility player said he was surprised he had become the most highly decorated player in Independent football history.

"Never did I think I would win four," Schulz said. "Even to get a best and fairest for a club I think is pretty good, so to get four of these is great."

In an amazing seven year run of dominance, Schulz has previously won the award in 1998, 2000 and 2002 and has been runner-up in 1997, 1999, and 2001.

Brown's Well's Leon Braun, with three medals, was previously the most decorated player in the competition.

Moorook-Kingston's Aaron Cooke won the Independent Colts medal for a record third consecutive time.

First appeared in The Loxton News, Wednesday, 3 September 2003.

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