Koroit captain Brett Harrington wins 2018 Hampden league Maskell Medal

The humble champion is focused on leading Koroit to a history-breaking fifth consecutive Hampden league premierhip on Saturday.

Harrington, 28, was crowned the competition’s best and fairest on Sunday, becoming the third Saint in six years to win following Ben Goodall in 2013 and Isaac Templeton in 2014-15.

The first-year Koroit captain polled 25 votes to win from Warrnambool midfielder Darcy Graham (20 votes).

Port Fairy ruckman-forward Sandy Robinson and Koroit onballer Liam Hoy each collected 19 votes. 

Harrington started in a back pocket for a star-studded Saints team before earning his spot in the midfield.

The in-and-under ball winner said his apprenticeship paid off.

“We had so many good onballers at that time and I worked my way into the middle and stayed there,” he said.

“As a young guy you come in (and realise) you need a high work-rate in the midfield so that was one thing I worked on a fair bit and getting the ball to the outside runners.”

Harrington’s consistency – a trait he is renowned for – was evident in the vote count.

He was equal leader with South Warrnambool’s Josh Saunders and James Hussey on 11 votes after nine rounds.

The Hampden interleague representative had 15 votes, equal with Seagulls big man Robinson, after 13 rounds.

He was tied with hard-running Blue Graham after round 16 with 19 votes.

A best-on-ground effort in the final round capped off Harrington’s season.

“I didn’t expect to walk away with this but it’s really good,” he said.

“I try and be as consistent as I can for the team and play my role most weeks because we’ve got so many experienced guys in there.”

Koroit claimed all three football awards on offer with Will Templeton collecting the Lew Kelly Medal as the reserves best and fairest and Seamus Brady crowned the under 18.5 Judd Cup winner.