Over 150 people attended the presentation dinner at the paceway function centre with many former players from the last thirty years present.
The evening kicked off with a statement from Rams Chairman, Kevin Tate, giving praise to all involved in the recent rise of the Rams and the announcement of an expansion plan for the future. MC for the night was to be board member, Michael Haynes, who was kept busy throughout, especially when the votes were announced late in the evening.
Recognition plaques were presented to the coaches and managers and trophies presented to the leading goalkickers for the season, Dale Chivas (1st Grade), Jason Bradley (Reserves) and Ben McGovern (18's). Game milestones were announced with 200 gamer, Stuart Ayres being the major acknowledgement.
Blue Mountains Kangaroo junior, Harry Doyle was announced as the best 18's new player whilst James Denton took out the senior title for the best new Rams player from a hot field. Matt Purse won the 18's Coaches Award presented by Rob Murie, Frank Taylor was on hand to present his award for the Reserve Grade honour to Matt Lewis and Keith Claxton announced Luke O'Connor as the winner of the Claxton Coaches Award.
As patrons tucked into the main meal of chicken and rack of lamb, 18's backman Tom Noble received the Most Consistent player trophy, ageless Christian Triffitt the Reserves and Jay Edwards the coveted Travis Hopper Memorial.
The evening rolled on quickly with stories from the past players tables gaining momentum. "Most Determined" awards were handed out to George Paneras (18's), first year player, Jason Jackson (Reserves) and Grand Final Best on Ground, Daniel Schroot.
The Dianne Guymer "Clubperson of the Year" Award is always a special moment in the club's history. Dianne lost her life in a car accident along with Travis Hopper, whilst returning from a Penrith game. 18's Manager, Rob Swarbrick, beat a worthy field for this honour.
18's George Paneras capped off a great evening winning his second award as the "Players Player", voted by his teammates. Nic Collimore, another first year AFL player, took out the Reserves title and Tim Cummins, the First Grade for the second consecutive year.
The "Chairman's Media Award" for the best coverage by a media outlet in Western Sydney/Blue Mountains was awarded to Penrith Press and Chris Georgakopoulos.
The premiership jerseys, suitably inscribed, were then presented to the first grade premiership side to a huge appluase by the attendees.
Prior to the Under 18's count, Dave Cummings was awarded the clubs highest honour, Life Membership, with Scott Duffus accepting the award on his behalf. Dave relocated to the Gold Coast at the end of the 2010 season with his family and was unable to attend.
As the Alan Stewart Medal for the Under 18's got underway, favourite Jack Ponton confirmed his favouritism status with a maximum 15 points in round one and was never headed as he ran away with the title accumulating 126 votes from Harry Doyle on 96. George Paneras was a close up third.
Daniel Barnes delivered an emotional speech as he received the second Life Membership on the evening. Daniel retired in 2010 after 16 years and 200 games with the club and Life Member, Jason Bradley was on hand to present the award.
With dessert served and devoured and the bar staff keeping busy at the back of the room, it was time for the Reserve Grade Geoff Eldering Medal. After Round Six, it was tough backman, Sam Lockhart leading the charge on 24 votes. By Round Twelve the landscape had changed dramatically with Nathan Rowley forging to a narrow lead from Nathan Gatt and a host of others. Rowley finished with a flurry, scoring 18 votes in his last two games to finally win the medal from Gatt, scoring 79 votes with Christian Triffitt, Nic Collimore and Tayt Corless rounding out the top five.
The final Life Membership of the year was one that was 30 years in the making. Life member and club legend, Michael Walker, a member of the foundation team in 1981, pulled no punches in relating how tough it was to get an "Aussie Rules" side up and running in Penrith. Keith Claxton was the catalyst in the Rams foundation before most of the current day players were born. Keith later related the genorosity of the league back in those days in assisting the Rams by offering the club two footballs to start the club. He also mentioned the fact that the club had to ship up a set of Geelong jerseys from Melbourne, which arrived the day before their first match, after a frantic search. Congratulations to Keith on this award. Daughter Allison, President of St Clair Crows, was also on hand. Keth's grandson, Ethan. is a very talented player with St Clair Crows Under 14's who recently played in the state zone titles and will hopefully continue the family tradition in the next few years as a Ram
It was time for the major award for the year, The Michael Walker Medal, as the votes commenced. The Sanders Medal duo of Dave Bradley and Dale Chivas were installed as favouites but there was late specking for Bryce Roney at big odds, Daniel Schroot a firmer in the market and Nathan Wright and Jay Edwards also in the mix.
Wright and Edwards were to top the count for the first two rounds but by round six, the consistency of Dave Bradley (38 votes) and Dale Chivas (28 votes) saw them lead the field.By Round 12, Chivas had pulled back the deficit to eight with Edwards, Wright, Cummins and Schroot hot in pursuit. The round 16 leaderboard threw the game wide open with Bradley hanging on to his lead by just three votes from Jay Edwards and James Denton on equal second. Daniel Schroot had got to fourth spot just a vote behind with Chivas dropping to fifth. Bryce Roney tickets were confetti with the money remaining in the bookies bag as he paddled in ninth spot.
The penultimate round against St George saw Bradley relinquish his lead with James Denton jumping to the lead with an 11 vote game with Chivas and Jay Edwards sharing the second spot. The final round played against Camden was to be an all important one. One vote to Roney saw him consolidate ninth spot and his protest against the voting system for backmen was quickly dismissed. Bradley was to finish with nine votes for the game, but Chivas also polled the same to finish on 74 votes to take out the coveted Walker Medal by four votes from the Rams captain on 70 votes, who had shared the medal with Lachie Smith in 2010.
James Denton capped off a wonderful season on 68 votes for third spot, Jay Edwards was fourth on 65 votes followed by Nathan "White Ant" Allison on 62. Daniel Schroot (57 votes) Nathan Wright (54 votes), Tim Cummins (52 votes) Bryce Roney (37 votes). Youngsters Matthew Payne, Adam Sharp and Ben Robinson all polled well with 32 votes whilst veteran second year player, Mark Woodford was breathing down their necks with 31 votes.
For Dale Chivas, it capped off a brilliant return to the Rams after spending two seasons at Campbelltown. A Sanders Medal, a premiership medal and a third Walker Medal (winning the award in 2007 and 2008).
The evening finished prior to midnight as the crowd slowly dispersed. Players headed of home for a cup of tea and a good night's sleep whilst the past players group were rumoured to be heading off to the Phriction Niteclub.
Congratulations to all those recognised on the evening in what has been another outstanding season.
A PDF of all the recipients is attached below
Michael Walker Medallist Dale Chivas (left) and Alan Stewart Medallist Jack Ponton.
Pic courtesy of Karen Ponton
Last Modified on 17/03/2012 18:31