30 | Keeping In Touch 2018 Boland Medal Winner: Nicholas Good - Penrith Touch Association Smith Medal Winner: Patricia Michaelopolous - Western Suburbs Touch Association SMITH MEDAL LEADERBOARD P Michaelopoulos West 18 C Tandek Canterbury 16 J Potts Newcastle 13 R Jeffs Newcastle 9 H Dyball Manly 9 C Young Canterbury 8 L Thorne Canterbury 8 LEADERBOARD N Good Penrith 22 J Kazzi Wests 21 K Jermyn Central Coast 15 C Nicholls Wests 15 A Langbridge Doyalson 14 D Barton Parramatta 14 L Cain Central Coast 13 D Thompson Doyalson 11 BOLAND & SMITH MEDALS Once again the medal count for the Boland and Smith Medal’s went down to the wire. The medals are named after legends of the game, Mark Boland and Karen Smith. This distinguished honour rewards the best and fairest players throughout the 2018 Vawdon Cup campaign in the Men’s and Women’s Premier League. Going into round nine of the Smith Medal, Canterbury’s Clare Tandek held the lead over Wests Magpies, Patricia Michaelopoulos by one vote. In round nine Michaelopoulos received three votes and Clare received one vote which saw the Magpie lead by one vote. In round 10 again Michaelopoulos received three votes with the champion Bulldog not polling a vote. In the final round of the 2018 Vawdon Cup Tandek received 3 votes to come within one vote of her rival on 23 points. In a tightly contested game Michaelopoulos received one vote leaving her with 25 points and a Smith Medal to call her own. Patricia Michaelopolous is a home-grown Western Suburbs Magpie having also represented both New South Wales and Australia. She has also come off an incredible NRL Touch Football Premiership series having taken to the field with women’s West Tigers team and securing the inaugural title. “It has been such a massive year for me and I am so humbled to have received an award like this,” Michaelopoulos said.“I never in a million years thought I would ever receive such a distinguished honour throughout my career and I really want to thank New South Wales Touch Football for providing so many avenues for me to improve my game.” “I was lucky enough to represent the West Tigers in the inaugural NRL Touch Football Premiership and I am so excited to see what next year will bring given the games expansion,” Patricia said. The Boland Medal was extremely close with only two points separating the top four players going into round nine. Jason Kazzi from Western Suburbs was sitting in top spot with 14 points whilst Nicholas Good from Penrith Touch Association and Luke Cain from Central Coast Touch Association were close behind on 13. Kazzi’s captain and team mate Cameron Nicholls was in 4th spot on 12. In round nine Nicholas Good received three votes whilst Jason Kazzi received two votes leaving them neck and neck going into round 10. In round 10, Jason Kazzi received 2 votes, while team mate Cameron Nicholls secured the 3 votes. When Nicholas Good secured 3 votes he had pushed ahead by one vote. Going into the final round Jason Kazzi secured 3 votes pushing him back into top spot on 21 votes. In the final game of the regular Vawdon Cup season Nicholas Good received his sixth consecutive best on ground to jump Kazzi and finish his Boland Medal assault on 22 points. Nicholas Good has had a successful year pulling on the Australian jersey, and being maned the inaugural NRL Touch Premiership Player of the Year, so this achievement is the icing on the cake, all that’s left is a strong Vawdon Cup finals series and even more successful State Cup campaign. “There is so much suspense when the medal count is being announced from round nine onwards and New South Wales Touch do such a wonderful job of it all, Nicholas said. “You don’t actually remember the games and how well you’ve gone in them so you try to think back on each game. “It is a matter of opinion on who is the better player in our game and I was fortunate enough to have that opinion swing my way tonight and I am incredibly humbled by this honour,” Nicholas said.