Teammates of Robe skipper Henry Lawrie toasted his Mail Medal win with bottles of water and cans of soft drink after the Mid South Eastern Football League president Peter Mitchell announced his victory at Millicent on Sunday afternoon.
The Roosters have followed the example of their teetotal captain and all A Grade player have voluntarily not consumed any alcohol for the past seven weeks.
The booze ban is not an edict imposed by either the club hierarchy or the coaching staff but is viewed as part of a team spirit and fitness regime.
Their temporary “dry spell” will end at the conclusion of their major round campaign.
Lawrie has been an outstanding centreman after transferring from his home club Kingston at the beginning of the 2023 season.
In his acceptance speech, he singled out Robe president Deb Mackey and coach Nathan Brown for making him feel welcomed.
He polled in 10 matches and in every round from two to eight.
At the halfway mark of the season, his tally of 12 votes was two behind Hatherleigh onballer and count leader Mikey Telford.

Lawrie’s eventual tally of 23 votes was four more than Kalangadoo’s Tye McManus and Mount Burr captain Dylan Ridley who were jointly awarded the Walker Medal in a tight field.
According to the pundits, this trio had been in contention for the league trophy which is awarded to the fairest and most brilliant player in the competition.
They are high possession winners, possess a strong work ethic and are always in the umpire’s eye.
Sunday was one of the highlights of the 2024 season for the Mid SE football and netball fraternity with the announcement of awards across all grades.
Nangwarry’s Elwood Geary was the winner of the Radio MMM Farmer Phil Scanlon Memorial Rookie of the Year.
It has been awarded for the past 18 seasons and honours the memory of the one-time East Gambier champion and coach of Hatherleigh, Glencoe and Nangwarry.
MSEFL player life memberships were awarded to Tantanoola’s Braydn Reilly and Mount Burr’s Peter Guyett after they passed the 250 A Grade games threshold this year.
The Carthew Medal for B Grade best and fairest was won by Glencoe’s Jason Bates, the MSEFL coach and captain of the year was Hatherleigh’s Tom Hutchesson, the Most Valuable Player was Glencoe’s Dylan Childs and best umpire was Matt Cockrum.
The best Under 21 player was Robe’s George Dutton and he received the Bill Hanel memorial award.