Tantanoola captain Troy Hatt rates winning the Neil Von Duve Memorial Medal last weekend as one of the highlights of his career in the Mid South East Football League.
His team defeated Glencoe by 23 points at home on Saturday with the dogged centreman getting the nod as best on ground.
Field umpires Scott Chuck, Bruce McLaughlin and Tim Biggins saw the value of Hatt’s ball-getting ability and leadership of his young
team.
There were 10 members of the Von Duve family present to witness the presentation.
Also looking on with pride were Hatt’s partner Kim Ballantyne and their one-year-old son Noah.
Hatt thanked the Von Duve family for donating the memorial prizes each year.
“I always find the matches against Glencoe to be good as you have to get the hard ball,” Hatt said.
The Tigers had come into the match as underdogs given they were defeated by the Murphies to the tune of 17 points at home in the third round on April 27.
It was the second such medal win for Hatt and the prize is awarded when Tantanoola hosts Glencoe each year.
Recruited from North Gambier, he is in his sixth season in a red and white jumper and closing in on the 100-game milestone, which should be achieved before the end of the 2024 home and away season.
In true family league tradition, he encouraged his brother Jordan to join the Tigers.
So far in 2024, Hatt has played 10 games and received seven mentions in the list of best players.
The medal honours the memory of Neil Von Duve who began his football career at Glencoe with his three brothers: Kevin (junior), Gary and Brad.
Neil later transferred to Tantanoola and played in the 1996 premiership side.
His final involvement with the MSEFL was as a respected field umpire.
In the closing years of his life, Neil suffered from a brain tumour.
He died on August 22, 2007 at the age of 44 and is buried in the Carinya Gardens Cemetery in Mount Gambier.
His family introduced the Neil Von Duve Memorial Cup and Memorial Medal the following year.
There was no play in 2000 on account of COVID with the score being nine-to-seven the way of Tantanoola.