Higgins rewarded for consistent season for Tigers with Viskovich Medal

Boulder midfielder Andy Higgins scored a runaway victory last Friday night for the 2024 Viskovich Medal, awarded to the Tigers’ fairest-and-best player in the Goldfields Football League.

Higgins dominated the count with 127 votes, 30 more than Jake Nuich, with Brett Blair third with 84 votes.

Medal success capped off another fine season for Higgins, who was named as a ruck-rover in the GFL’s team of the year.

Nuich and Blair also made the team of the year — Blair getting the nod with 35 goals in 10 games, despite a season-ending knee injury in round 15 against Kambalda.

Blair’s form in attack earned him the Mayo Medal as leading goal kicker, Nuich was named most influential player, and Jorden Hooks received the spirit of football award.

The Tigers went into 2024 as the reigning premiers, but incoming coach Simon Edwards was left with a squad that barely resembled the group of a year earlier following a massive turnover of players.

They finished third but were bundled out of the flag race in the first semifinal by Kalgoorlie.

Matt Worthington was last weekend named club person of the year.

Among Boulder’s women’s awards, the Edwards Medal — which recognises the current league coach’s decades of loyal service — went to Gabby Moran ahead of Sienna Kinninmont.

Tia Kaddatz (most improved), Tenique Adams (coaches’ award), and Paris Ulijn (leading goal kicker) claimed the other women’s awards.

In the colts, Steven Wanoe-Katone won the Worthington Medal from Tom Coughlan.

Eric Walter (most consistent), Tadoka Kemp (most improved), and Tyrell Pickett (leading goal kicker) were also honoured, and Bryant Best backed-up his GFL reserves fairest-and-best trophy by claiming the Hayes Medal from Henry Papertalk.

Malachi Waters was judged most improved, and Lewis Johns grabbed two awards — coaches’ choice and leading goal kicker.

The Tigers’ reserves, under Brenton Marr, this year completed back-to-back flags following a memorable grand final win against Mines Rovers, who levelled the scores twice in the last quarter.