Stubber snares Kleemann to cap dominant season

Classy Railways midfielder Logan Stubber has capped a superb season by winning his first H.B Kleemann Medal, edging out rival Dave Parker in a tense finish to the 61st edition of the count for the Great Southern Football League’s best player last Thursday.

The 23-year-old became the third successive Tiger to win the prestigious medal, following in the footsteps of Zane Marwick and Joel Want, but it took until the final round of the season to clinch the honour.

Stubber started the season brilliantly and led by four votes after five rounds but that margin was cut to a single vote after 10 rounds with Lions ball magnet Parker and North Albany’s Nathan Crudeli coming hard.

Parker had 14 votes with five rounds remaining and he drew level with Stubber at the conclusion of round 12, after his best-afield performance against Albany. However, the two votes from Stubber in round 12 proved decisive, as he and Parker entered the final round locked on 17.

Stubber was terrific in the Tigers’ thumping of Denmark-Walpole, with plenty of the ball and three goals to earn three votes and write his name in the record books as Parker was unable to add to his tally in round 15.

Growing up in Borden, Stubber joined Railways as a junior and played four colts games with Claremont in 2014 before returning to become an integral part of the Tigers senior side. “To be honoured as the best footballer in the league is such a great feeling,” Stubber said.

“It is a privilege to join such a great list of footballers in winning the Kleemann.

“The vote count was pretty nerve-racking towards the end, knowing it was a tie going into the last round, then hearing your name at the very end with the three votes, it was an incredible feeling knowing you had won.”

The honour capped a stellar season for Stubber, who was best on ground in both round one and 15 of the season and was best afield in five of the 14 games he played.

He finished with 20 votes to just shade Parker (17), who was in pursuit of his second medal.

Lions’ Jordan Heil was the surprise packet of the count, polling consistently to finish third on 13 votes and Mt Barker pair Sam Lehmann and Jesse Wynne were next on 12 each.

The other players to reach double figures were pre-count fancies Tyler Stone and Crudeli and Tigers’ Craig Frost as that trio all collected 10 votes.

Earlier, Stubber was recognised as the Albany Advertiser Foot-baller of the Year, finishing with 22 votes to defeat Parker (17) and Stone (15).

Kleemann Medal leaderboard

Logan Stubber (Railways) 20 votes

Dave Parker (Royals) 17

Jordan Heil (Royals) 13

Sam Lehmann (Mt Barker) 12

Jesse Wynne (Mt Barker) 12

Tyler Stone (Denmark-Walpole) 10

Nathan Crudeli (North Albany) 10

Craig Frost (Railways) 10

Joel Want (Railways) 9

Kane Shephard (Railways) 9

Ryan Gaerth (Denmark-Walpole) 8