For the first time in 3 and a half years, Dustin Martin is not leading the Smugglers' B&F race. After failing to poll a vote on the weekend he has been over-taken by recruit of the year nominee Robbie Gray. Abbots Booby Medal (after 5 rounds) 7 - Gray 6 - Martin 3 - Heppell, Hartlett, Deledio 2 - Hurn, Westhoff, Dunstan 1 - Menzel, Lever
The worst club historian in the FU is finally back in business: 2018 Season Hopes were high at Flying Fish Cove in season 2018, as the Smugglers entered the regular season following a close GF loss. A club best finish of third, with a 13-4 win record had the fans dreaming of glory, but unfortunately selection dilemmas and defender choking cost the team a spot in the GF, going down to @bryzza's Vikings in a belter of a final. Awards Abbots Booby Medal Dayne Beams took out the Club's best and fairest for the first time in the closest poll in the Smuggler's history. Dayne started slowly, not receiving a vote in the first 5 rounds, but was on fire after that, receiving votes in 11 of the final 13 games, including 4 BOGs to hold off Robbie Gray. Previous winners Dyson Heppell and Dusty Martin, along with new recruit, Justin Westhoff rounded out the top 5. 20 - D. Beams 12 - R. Gray 11 - D. Heppell 10 - D. Martin 7 - J. Westhoff 6 - M. Kreuzer, S. Hurn 5 - L. Dunstan, K. Simpson 3 - H. Hartlett, B. Deledio, A. Hall 2 - I. Smith, D. Thomas 1 - D. Menzel, J. Lever, L. Taylor Previous winners 2017 - D. Martin 2016 - D. Martin 2015 - D. Martin 2014 - D. Heppell Goshawk Medal Determined on the basis on percentage variance between finals average and season average the 2018 winner of the Goshawk was Dyson Heppell. Previous winners: 2017 - I. Smith 2014 - H. Hartlett Season Records Finished: 3rd regular season (lost to Nuytsland 1262 -1274 in the elimination final) Highest score: 1404 (R1 versus Banchang) Largest winning margin: 275 (R4 versus Pearcedale) Lowest score: 1100 (R17 versus Blanchetown) Largest losing margin: 181 (R8 versus Southern Cross) ***** Entering season 2019 with the FU's 4th best winning record overall, and second best across seasons 2017 and 2018, the coach was confident that the 2019 year would be the one in which the Smugglers finally nabbed that elusive flag. How wrong that turned out to be...