Harper may have to share de served award

LAUNCESTON ball magnet Jobi Harper will walk away with this year’s TSL media award–and only a Tigers midfield maestro is able to share the spoils.

Harper, who has put together an outstanding 2020 campaign, had arguably his quietest game of the season in the win against Clarence on Saturday.

With the Blues having the last-round bye, the 14 votes he polled in the player of the year award is enough to see him earn the title for the first time.

It will be well deserved for the inside bull, who is fourth in the league for disposals (22.7), second for contested possessions (13.1), first for hard ball gets (5.4), second for clearances (7.3) and fifth in player rating points (110.3).

Whether Harper wins the award outright or is declared co-winner will be determined by Kier an Lovell’ s performance against Lauderdale.

Lovell sits in the third spot with 11 votes, and will need a best afield outing against the Bombers to join Harper atop the leader board.

Hudson medallist Dylan Riley sits second with 12 votes, but like Harper will be unable to add to histally.

Retiring Glenorchy star J aye Bow den earned two votes in his final State League appearance on Sunday as the Pies fell narrowly short of sending off the modern-day great in perfect fashion.

The Pies recovered from 20 points down in the final term to fall short by three, with Demon young gun Tom Reeves jagging three votes for his 21-disposal effort, which included seven inside 50s, four clearance sand twor ebound 50s.

Taylor Whitford secured the maximum votes from teammate Josh Ponting in North Launceston’s big win against Tigers, while Sam Siggins’ effort in the ruck against the Pies on Wednesday after Haydn Smith went down with a dislocated ankle saw him gain best a field honours.