Dean Towers - 2012 Fothergill/Round Medallist

[Football Factory]

Speedy North Ballarat wingman Dean Towers has been named the Victorian Football League’s most promising young player. Towers was last night awarded the Fothergill-Round Medal as the best 23/under player amid the league’s JJ Liston Trophy vote count at Etihad Stadium.

The 22-year-old from Colac said he was shocked and a little overwhelmed to receive such a prestigious medal.

He soon backed up the award with a spot in the VFL team of the year, named on the interchange.

Towers is in his second year with the Selkirk Roosters and worked hard to firm a senior spot after making his VFL debut in last year’s finals series. In an impressive year, Towers was also called up to represent the VFL in an interleague clash against the Tasmanian State League in May

“It’s been good to be able to slowly find my place in the side and play consistent footy,” Towers said.

“It’s been a gradual progression since the Roosters took me on.”

The Fothergill-Round medallist is often considered a key AFL draft prospect.

Past winners include Michael Barlow (Werribee/Fremantle), Robin Nahas (Port Melbourne/Richmond), Michael Hibberd (Frankston/Essendon) and last year’s recipient Ahmed Saad (Northern Bullants/St Kilda).

Towers has already attracted attention from AFL recruiters as an invitee to next month’s AFL national combine.

“At the start of this year I sat down with the coaches to set my goals and that was one of my goals, to get looked at,” Towers said.

“To actually achieve that is pretty exciting.”

The Fothergill-Round Medal continues a remarkable journey for Towers, an Otways Districts junior, who was playing his debut season with in the Geelong Football League two years ago.

A friend encouraged him to try out at the Roosters while studying his physical education teaching degree at the University of Ballarat.

In a break-through season, Towers, along with Rebels graduate Coleman Schache, was named in the inaugural VFL academy, which offered specialist coaching and mentoring through the season.

Towers said the only dampener was a hamstring injury that limited his end to the season.


http://www.colacherald.com.au/2012/09/league-awards-young-rooster/

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High Towers   

After smashing Trent Croad's 15-year standing vertical jump record    Dean Towers has leapt into draft calculations

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/149639/default.aspx

[Scrads]

Any rookie-priced player who is named Round 1 will be considered a viable DT option ;)

[Football Factory]

Any rookie-priced player who is named Round 1 will be considered a viable DT option ;)

Well said  ;)

[Windigo]

Didn't Barlow win it?

Could mean a big future!  :P

[henry]

Didn't Barlow win it?

Past winners include Michael Barlow (Werribee/Fremantle), Robin Nahas (Port Melbourne/Richmond), Michael Hibberd (Frankston/Essendon) and last year’s recipient Ahmed Saad (Northern Bullants/St Kilda).

::). He's definitely on my radar now.

[Windigo]

Didn't Barlow win it?

Past winners include Michael Barlow (Werribee/Fremantle), Robin Nahas (Port Melbourne/Richmond), Michael Hibberd (Frankston/Essendon) and last year’s recipient Ahmed Saad (Northern Bullants/St Kilda).

::). He's definitely on my radar now.

Haha, and it was in red and everything.  :P

[Adamant]

Any rookie-priced player who is named Round 1 will be considered a viable DT option ;)

Haha so true!

[Football Factory]

Didn't Barlow win it?

Past winners include Michael Barlow (Werribee/Fremantle), Robin Nahas (Port Melbourne/Richmond), Michael Hibberd (Frankston/Essendon) and last year’s recipient Ahmed Saad (Northern Bullants/St Kilda).

::). He's definitely on my radar now.

Haha, and it was in red and everything.  :P

I changed it to blue for you Windy   ;D

[Windigo]

Didn't Barlow win it?

Past winners include Michael Barlow (Werribee/Fremantle), Robin Nahas (Port Melbourne/Richmond), Michael Hibberd (Frankston/Essendon) and last year’s recipient Ahmed Saad (Northern Bullants/St Kilda).

::). He's definitely on my radar now.

Haha, and it was in red and everything.  :P

I changed it to blue for you Windy   ;D

Haha, cheers....I cannot read red.... :P

[The_Captain]

hopefully he goes to one of the lesser sides which will help his chances of early games :)

[Mr.Craig]

I think there's a solid list of mid rookies ahead of him. He'd need a blinder of a NAB.

[Scrads]

Any rookie-priced player who is named Round 1 will be considered a viable DT option ;)

Well said  ;)

Any rookie-priced player who is named Round 1 will be considered a viable DT option ;)

Haha so true!

It is just too bad if you were unlucky enough to choose Peter Yagmoor last year haha ;)

[Shihan7]

Any rookie-priced player who is named Round 1 will be considered a viable DT option ;)

+1

[The_Captain]

next zorko anyone????

[JBs-Hawks]

How can they count his vertical jump when he is 22 and croad was 17