Keilor midfielder Dylan Joyce has been rewarded for an outstanding season in the Essendon District Football League by taking out the Blues’ best and fairest award.
Joyce won the Bruce Ellis Trophy at the club’s vote count earlier this month, while forward Andrew Browne was second.
Joyce, 24, tore up the competition and was named among his club’s best players in 14 of his 19 matches.
He also built on his reputation as a goal- kicking option, with 21 majors.
Keilor coach Mick McGuane was full of praise for his star player.
“He had a terrific year and, really, it was driven by his appetite for the contest,” McGuane said.
“I think a lot of people have considered Dylan to be just an outside small midfielder.
“But I think an aspect of his game that gets no kudos is the inside toughness he shows. He’s challenged week to week as one of the smaller midfielders in the competition and is tagged and scrutinised heavily.
“But, more often than not, he serves up what we expect.”
It wasn’t just his impact as a player that contributed to Joyce’s outstanding year; the 2014 season was also his first as the Blues’ co-captain.
The extra responsibility did nothing to slow him down, and Joyce seemingly performed at an even higher level for the club’s biggest matches.
There was none bigger than when the Blues took on Avondale Heights in the final round of the home-and-away season, when a win was needed to keep the club’s finals hopes alive.
Joyce had 37 disposals, 12 clearances and kicked three goals and the Blues went on to win the game.
“He has matured a lot,” McGuane said. “Three years ago, I think it’s fair to say, a lot of aspects to his game needed to be tidied up. I think we all forgot how young he was and sometimes we get misled by player talent as opposed to overall life maturity.
“To his credit, at 24 going on 25 now, he has grown up in a lot of aspects in his life.
“I really like the way he’s going about his footy.
“He’s very team-focused and tries to challenge his players in the right way. He understands what team ethos really means.”
In other news from Keilor, Kane Barbuto was named the club’s most courageous player, Angus Munro took out the best first-year player award, and Paul Tobin received the best clubman award.
The Blues will begin preseason training next month.
