THE 2022 NAB League awards night was held on Wednesday, with the competition’s best talent recognised in the Team of the Year, and Morrish Medal count. The online ceremony also saw a Personal Growth award handed out, as the first honour of the night.

For the second year running, two players were awarded the Morrish Medal in a tied count. Tasmania Devils captain Lachlan Cowan and Dandenong Stingrays midfielder Taj Campbell-Farrell both landed on 18 votes, one ahead of Gippsland Power skipper Bailey Humphrey.

Cowan became just the third non-Victorian and second Tasmanian to take out the award, after Lenny Hayes (NSW/ACT Rams) and Luke Shackleton. The eye-catching rebound defender averaged 27 disposals and nine rebound 50s this season, as he leads the Devils’ finals campaign.

Campbell-Farrell also stuffed the stats sheet before injury cut short his season. The Stingrays ball magnet averaged 29 touches and five tackles in 10 games. Both players also earned Team of the Year honours, with Cowan starting at half-back while Campbell-Farrell features on the interchange.

>> Leaderboard: 2022 Rookie Me Central Medal

MORRISH MEDAL LEADERBOARD

=1st – TAJ CAMPBELL-FARRELL (Dandenong Stingrays)
=1st – LACHLAN COWAN (Tasmania Devils)
3rd – Bailey Humphrey (Gippsland Power)
4th – Will Ashcroft (Sandringham Dragons)
5th – Aaron Cadman (GWV Rebels)

The NAB League Team of the Year is lead by top AFL Draft prospect, Will Ashcroft this time around, with Rookie Me Central medallist and league leading goalkicker Aaron Cadman his vice-captain. Both players rounded out the top five Morrish Medal vote getters.

In a star-studded team which takes into account National Championship form on top of NAB League feats, only one over-ager (Brandon Leary) and two bottom-agers (Harley Reid and Zane Duursma) made the cut. Campbell-Farrell was the only player selected not to have featured at representative level.

A bunch of likely top 10 draft picks fill out the team, including Ashcroft and Jhye Clark in midfield, Elijah Tsatas and Harry Sheezel at half-forward, and Bailey Humphrey also among the front six. Of course, Reid and Duursma may fit that bill for next year’s intake.

>> Rookie Me Central NAB League Team of the Year

2022 NAB LEAGUE TEAM OF THE YEAR

B: Cooper Vickery (GP) – Lewis Hayes (ER) – Harley Reid (BP)
HB: Lachlan Cowan (TD) – Josh Weddle (OC) – Henry Hustwaite (DS)
C: Jason Gillbee (BP) – Jhye Clark (GF) – Cameron Mackenzie (SD)
HF: Elijah Tsatas (OC) – Aaron Cadman (GWV, vc) – Harry Sheezel (SD)
F: Bailey Humphrey (GP) – Matthew Jefferson (OC) – Brandon Leary (TD)
FOL: Max Knobel (GP) – Will Ashcroft (SD, c) – Mitch Szybkowski (DS)
INT: Taj Campbell-Farrell (DS), Zane Duursma (GP), Darcy Edmends (NK), Thomas McCallum (TD), Charlie Clarke (SD), Blake Drury (OC)

PERSONAL GROWTH AWARD

Sahaf Ali (Eastern Ranges)