ON Wednesday Minyip-Murtoa's Kieran Delahunty capped off an outstanding season by being awarded his second Toohey Medal.
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The 28-year-old first received the Wimmera Football Netball League's highest honour back in 2014 and was just as humbled this time around.
"It's something that you never try and aim to win, but when you do get recognised it's obviously quite an honour," Delahunty said.
"You look at some of the people that have won it before and I certainly don't put myself in that category and it's maybe something that you reflect on when your footy career is finished.
"It was a nice way to end the year given we couldn't get the premiership."
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Delahunty, positioned as a ruck/forward, played an integral role in the Burras cruising to the 2021 minor premiership.
The side lost just one of their 12 games, with the Toohey Medallist playing every match and kicking 29 goals.
After spending 2020 playing in the WAFL with Perth, Delahunty believes he had a fitness advantage to other players early on in the season.
That aside, he thinks 2021 was the "most consistent season of footy" he has played.
"A lot of the credit has got to go to the coaching staff and how they set-up a game-plan around a team," he said.
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When you have a team with an array of stars like Minyip-Murtoa do, you can expect that players might steal votes off each other.
Because of his side's depth of talent, Delahunty didn't go into the count with any expectations.
"I thought we had such a good side that there was going to be a lot of people getting votes," he said.
"I certainly didn't think I'd be winning it but sometimes the midfielders do make you look good.
"Luke Fisher was super this year and the two McIntyre boys and the Petering boys are all very classy.
Not only has Delahunty played in the WAFL, but he also spent time with the Northern Territory Thunder in the NEAFL.
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In 2019 with the Thunder he finished sixth in their best and fairest and tied for the leading goalkicker award with 17 goals.
Delahunty said that playing in those state leagues has "100 per cent" helped develop his game to where it is now.
"Coming up against AFL-listed players or ex-AFL players, they're a lot bigger," he said.
"Tactically in the ruck their positioning around the ground, there were so many things I learnt.
"One of the best I played on was my cousin Lachie (Delahunty).
"He's phenomenal with his work rate around the ground and he's always giving away five or six centimetres to other big ruckmen.
"He's been a great help."
Unfortunately due to COVID-19 the Burras were robbed of any chance to defend their 2019 flag, however they have still been acknowledged as the minor premiers.
"We got the minor premiership and we couldn't quite officially get a premiership but it was still a pretty good year of dominance," Delahunty said.
"You can't do much about a world pandemic."
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