Newdegate defender Dean Rintoul recognised for superb season with first Ganzer Medal as OFA best and fairest

Dominant key position player and Newdegate stalwart Dean Rintoul won his first Ganzer Medal as the Ongerup Football Association’s fairest and best player presentations on Sunday. Rintoul was rewarded for his fine individual season for the Lions, polling 36 votes across 12 games to receive the top honour. He edged out by four votes Boxwood Hill star Hayden Richter, who won the Ray Gannaway trophy as runner-up. Gnowangerup’s Liam Phillips rounded out the top three on 23. In the 2021 count Rintoul finished in fourth place but said he was honoured to be recognised as the OFA’s best player. “It was a bit of a shock,” Rintoul said. “I thought the previous year I might have had a better season but I’m pretty honoured to win it. “We’ve had so many great players in the OFA who have won this award and it doesn’t quite feel right to see my name up there on the list with them.” Rintoul is the first Lions player since Trent De Nardi in 2018 to win the medal. The 30-year-old, who has come back from two serious knee operations, credited a move to defence and getting fit as the reasons behind his wonderful season. “I’ve had a change in role from generally being a full forward or centre-half forward and now I’ve moved down to defence,” he said. “Playing in the half-back line, reading the play and setting the team up has been great. “Also losing a few kilos, I’ve got myself pretty fit which has helped my footy.” Rintoul will be a key part of the Lions’ bid to challenge for a league premiership when the OFA finals begin this week and he was confident his side could match it with any team they came up against. Last year’s Ganzer medallist and Bulldogs midfielder Fraser House finished in fourth place with 21 votes, closely followed by Bulldogs captain Scott Anderson and star goal kicker Lewis Davis who each received 20 votes. Davis won the league leading goal kicker award after a sensational year in front of the big sticks, kicking 72 majors. The OFA rookie of the year was Tristan Ballard from the Lions while Brad Smallwood and Geoff Sabourne were named field and goal umpires of the year respectively. The Kelly O’Neill trophy as the reserves fairest and best player went to Jerramungup’s Charlie McKinlay on eight votes, beating Bulldogs’ James Culleton and Boxwood’s Mitch Murdoch who had seven each. Eagles’ Brock Duckworth was named the fairest and best player in the junior competition. At the presentations, Kelvin “Kelly” O’Neill was inducted as the latest OFA life member. There was also a special presentation made to Kim Parsons after serving as OFA president for 19 years. Ganzer Medal 2022 36 votes: Dean Rintoul (Newdegate) 32: Hayden Richter (Boxwood Hill) 23: Liam Phillips (Gnowangerup) 21: Fraser House (Gnowangerup) 20: Scott Anderson (Gnowangerup) Lewis Davis (Gnowangerup) 18: Luke Bairstow (Lake Grace-Pingrup) 17: Jayden Brooks (Jerramungup) 16: Nic Bertola (Boxwood Hill) 15: Brett Plane (Boxwood Hill)