Iles good bet for Holman Medal again
Three-time winner leading Redbacks’ charge
Keith Webb: Warwick have won a lot of games and that goes hand-in-hand with polling votes.
WARWICK isn’t about to give up its stranglehold on the Holman Medal with Brendan Iles on track for an unprecedented fourth AFL Darling Downs best-and-fairest award.
Four of the past five Holmans have gone to Redbacks players after Iles won three-straight between 2009 and 2011 and Kurt Millard took out the honour last season.
That trend looks likely to continue as Warwick has dominated the league this season, taking out the minor premiership and booking the first spot in the grand final.
Iles is the frontrunner after polling among his team’s best in 13 out of 15 games during the regular season and booting 43 goals.
He is a natural ball-getter and Warwick’s spiritual leader on-field.
But the Redbacks are far from a one-man team, with the likes of Tyhe Clarkson and Coen Slatter also expected to feature.
Clarkson’s running game and his ability to turn defence into attack has left his opponents bewildered while Slatter’s versatility has been crucial to his team’s charge.
AFLQ regional manager Keith Webb believed the success of Warwick’s hard-working midfield would make them tough to beat in the 3-2-1 Holman voting.
“Warwick have had a good year. They’ve won a lot of games and that goes hand-in-hand with polling votes,” he said.
Webb praised the consistent efforts of Phil Dreise from Coolaroo and University pair Heath Gniel and Corey Balnaves but he believed their Holman chances were not as strong as the Warwick trio.
“Uni and Coolaroo are teams you really look to closely. They have a bit more of an even spread,” he said.
“Phil Dreise has won a Holman Medal before and he wins a lot of footy for Coolaroo.
“But the problem with Dreise and Tom Rudolph (who was named best on-ground in last year’s grand final) is that they’ve missed a lot of football through injury. They may not poll as many votes.
“Uni seem more balanced across the paddock. They don’t rely on one player to win the ball.
“Cory Balnaves has been strong but he plays more of a defensive role and they tend not to win votes.
“I think that’s why Warwick is the standout. It’s their midfield that’s winning a lot of the football.
“They’ll get a lot of three votes where other clubs might only get ones and twos.”