Storm star claims Michelsen Medal

A GUN on-baller for Strathfieldsaye Storm, Jake Moorhead won the Michelsen Medal as fairest and best in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football League’s senior comp for 2022.

Victory in the vote count held on Sunday night at Bendigo Club kicked off what could be a big week for Moorhead and his Storm teammates as they face Gisborne in this Saturday’s grand final.

The maximum of three votes in four matches and votes across nine other games gave Moorhead a tally of 19 in the count.

Joint runners-up on 15 were Gisborne on-baller Brad Bernacki and South Bendigo playing coach Nathan Horbury.

Also well in the running were Sandhurst’s Lee Coghlan, Castlemaine’s Tommy Horne, Gisborne’s Flynn Lakey, and Strathfieldsaye’s Callum McCarty locked on 14 votes.

From the victory dais, Moorhead praised Brad Bernacki and Storm team-mate Kallen Geary on a high number of votes in a season where they missed many matches either through VFL commitments or injury.

After votes from the 15th of the 18-round season had been called, Moorhead led on 17 from Horne with 14, Bernacki and Eaglehawk’s Billy Evans at 13.

One vote in the 17th round and again in the 18th, which was the final card to be called, were enough to clinch victory.

“I owe everything to Strathfieldsaye Football Netball Club,” said Moorhead. “I have been at the club seven or eight years now, and their support is incredible.”

Now living and working in Melbourne, the medallist also thanked his fiance, Shania for her amazing support.

Moorhead became the second Storm player to claim a Michelsen Medal.

The first was Lachlan Sharp in Storm’s premiership-winning year of 2017.

Moorhead and Sharp will be aiming to add to their trophy cabinet when Storm tackles Gisborne in this Saturday’s grand final at Queen Elizabeth Oval.