Thurlow in fitness chase for big dance
Sharks ace still 50-50 final chance
SHARKS ruckman Fraser Thurlow is racing the clock to be ready for a stunning comeback from injury in Sunday’s VFL grand final against Casey Demons.
Thurlow injured a hamstring against the Sydney Swans in round 17 on July 15 and has been on a mission to get back in time for the premiership decider at Ikon Park in Melbourne.
The club hoped he’d be back for last week’s clash with the Gold Coast Suns but he fell short and is now attempting to make a return in the biggest game of the year, two months after his last game.
“Fraser has missed the majority of the second half of the year,” Sharks coach Stephen Daniel said. “To be honest I think he is still 50/50 to get up. It might be a case for poor Fraser where time will be against him.”
Becoming the first Queensland team to win the VFL flag would be an enormous achievement for a Sharks club that has weathered much heartache in 2022.
Longtime club president Alan Mackenzie died, current president Matthew Schneider is battling bowel cancer and wet weather and injury have hindered the team.
“We have had a really hard year,” Daniel said. “The rain we have had in Queensland, we haven’t been on our ground so we have been training in parks, hockey fields, training in the car park under our motel on the concrete.
“Then Doc (Mackenzie) passed away. It was one thing after another. For this group to be resilient and get to where we are now is outstanding for our football club.
“To win on the weekend would be an incredible achievement and a fairytale.”
Southport midfielder Jacob Dawson was named the Coaches MVP for the VFL on Monday night, finishing ahead of teammate Boyd Woodcock. Both finished second in the J.J Liston Trophy vote count.
Werribee’s Tom Gribble and Essendon’s Georgia Nanscawen wrote themselves into the history books.
Gribble was named the J.J. Liston Trophy winner for the second successive VFL season after taking out the 2019 award.
The star onballer finished on 30 votes, eight clear of Woodcock and Dawson, after polling in 12 games including eight best on grounds. He is the first Werribee player to win the award twice.
The Big W co-captain averaged 33.2 disposals, 13.8 contested possessions, 7.3 clearances, 4.3 tackles and 5.6 inside 50s throughout the season.
Meanwhile Nanscawen, who won the 2021 LambertPearce Medal, stormed away to win the VFLW best and fairest with 33 votes, 13 clear of her nearest challenger, Hawthorn’s Tamara Luke.
The award capped a remarkable rise for the former Hockeyroo, who was the Bombers’ first AFLW signing and co-captained the club to the VFLW premiership. Nanscawen was also named the VFLW Coaches MVP.
In other awards, Port Melbourne defender Ethan Phillips was named the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell medallist for the most promising talent under the age of 24 in the VFL.
Thalia Fellows from the Casey Demons was named most promising VFLW talent and awarded the Debbie Lee Medal.
VFL life membership was awarded to Judith Elliott, Greg Pendlebury and Erica O’Donnell.
Werribee timekeeper Scott Bishop was presented with the Alex Gillon Award (VFL Volunteer of the Year) and Darebin’s Julie Boffa the Ann Rulton Award (VFLW Volunteer of the Year), accolades that recognise club officials who have given outstanding service to their club or football in general.