Johnson leads the way at Tigerland
Lyall Johnson
The Age
September 21, 2006
CAPPING off his second season as Richmond captain, Kane Johnson was last night awarded the Jack Dyer Medal as the Tigers' best and fairest, beating young star Andrew Raines by a mere three votes in an exciting count.
Johnson's win followed two runner-up finishes in 2003 and 2004 and denied Joel Bowden a hat-trick of wins. Bowden last night finished fourth behind Troy Simmonds, whom many thought had had a year good enough to earn him All-Australian honours as a ruckman.
Kayne Pettifer, who two years ago was struggling to find a spot in the side, was fifth — his best result.
Johnson's win came in a season where the skipper was assigned a different playing role, often running with the opposition's best midfielder. Yet while shutting down the likes of Chris Judd, Brett Kirk, Nick Dal Santo, Travis Johnstone and Simon Black, he also managed to average more than 17 disposals a game.
Raines, who came second in this year's AFL Rising Star award, played every game, collecting 397 disposals for the year at an average of 18 a game.
Dean Polo, who picked up 28 possessions and was awarded best-on-ground honours in his debut against Essendon, won Richmond's rising star award.
But amid the celebrations last night, there were black armbands to mark the death on Tuesday night of former premiership ruck rover and defender Terry Smith following a short battle with cancer.
Affectionately known as "Brutus" to his teammates, Smith was a low-key and humble man off the field but a tough, no-nonsense player who was a member of Richmond's 1980 premiership win over Collingwood.
Smith played 56 games for the Tigers in two stints split by 44 games with St Kilda, and was a member of the Victorian side in 1981.
2006 JACK DYER MEDAL: Kane Johnson 226, Andrew Raines 223, Troy Simmonds 215, Joel Bowden 204, Kayne Pettifer 186, Greg Tivendale 172, Matthew Richardson 164, Patrick Bowden 160, Dean Polo 152, Shane Tuck 151.
Leading goalkicker: Matthew Richardson (45).
Francis Bourke award: Andrew Raines.
Rising star: Dean Polo.
Most improved: Nathan Foley.
Best player at Coburg: Matthew White.
Most valuable person: Kane Johnson.
Fans' choice: Andrew Raines.
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