UGSFL 2023: Star midfielder Kade Stewart claims second best-and-fairest award in Wanderers’ centenary year

After a stellar season in the engine room of Upper Great Southern Football League league premiership team, Kade Stewart has taken out the club’s best-and-fairest award. Stewart polled 103 votes to claim the Ken Robertson pin and Walter Quartermaine Shield, seven more than skipper James Laurino (96 votes). Ruckman Mitchell Banks was third after a strong year with 57 votes while Caleb Keley (43) and Laurence Collard (43) rounded out the top five. Stewart was a force through the midfield throughout the year and said he was proud of the achievement. “This year was an extremely tight competition and to win the grand final in the centenary year caps off a great season, not only for myself but for the club,” he said. The 26-year-old was humbled by the award and attributed much of his success to his counterparts, in particular runner-up Laurino. “James is the barometer of the football club as a player and as a person,” Stewart said. “Everyone at the club looks up to him and to share the top two with him is an honour. “You can’t win these awards by yourself, you need 20 blokes by your side and I couldn’t have done it without them. The former Hawthorn midfielder returned to the Wanderers in 2018 where he won the award along with the Leo Graham Medal after polling 27 votes but said this year felt more satisfying. “After such a dominant season in 2018, we should have won and that added a really sour end to the season,” he said. “To do this in such an important year for the club and in a premiership-winning year is really rewarding.” Tyrone Roe (22), William Roe (19), Haiden Schloithe (18), Reece Nicholson (14) and Lachlan Saunders (14) rounded out the top 10 in the league vote count. Reece Eades was awarded the fairest and best trophy for the reserves, Jack Kennedy was named colts best and fairest, while Adam Edwards claimed best and fairest in the fourths.