It is one of the worst-kept secrets in VFL circles – Williamstown midfielder Adam Marcon is a seriously talented young footballer.
Marcon had to wait until the age of 22 to get official recognition, gaining a Fothergill-Round Medal as the most promising young talent in the competition.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say … that I really had my eyes on this award,” Marcon said at the VFL presentation night on Monday night. “It’s a really prestigious one, and I always thought it would be great recognition among such great company. I know there are so many good players in the VFL this year, so it’s an absolute honour to win it.”
The annual award has been going since 1989 and most medal-holders over the past 27 years have gone on to play in the big league. Marcon’s best mate, Kane Lambert, received the medal when the pair played with the Northern Blues.
Lambert was drafted last year and will play for Richmond in its elimination final against North Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.
Marcon is hoping to follow in his mate’s footsteps and get drafted this year.
“It’s an inspiration to see him go on to bigger and better things, and I take a lot of satisfaction out of how well he’s going,” he said.
Marcon will have a big final of his own to play in 10 days’ time as an important cog in the Seagulls’ midfield when they run out for a preliminary final against either Footscray or Essendon. Which team they play will be decided in the semi-final this weekend.
“It was very important to set ourselves up with a win [over Sandringham in the qualifying final on Sunday],” Marcon said. “We just managed to hold off a fast-finishing Zebras team. I guess the next 10 days are probably more about freshening up and looking at the game plan.”
It was a big night for the Seagulls at the VFL night of nights. Dylan Conway emerged with the A.Todd Medal for best-and-fairest in the AFL’s Victoria development league.
There were team-of-the-year honours for Marcon, Peter Faulks, Nick Meese, Mitch Banner, Sam Dunell, Andrew Gallucci and captain Ben Jolley.
The Liston Trophy vote count was a thriller with Dunell on 14 votes, one of four runners-up to North Ballarat’s Nick Rippon, who polled 15.
