Werribee Districts co-captain Matt Dean is not blessed with in-your-face flashes of brilliance that will leave you gushing after watching him play.
The Barry Priest Medal winner’s value to the Tigers is more important than a highlight-reel hog because he’s an ever-present four-quarter performer who delivers week in, week out.
Dean does the dirty work that a lot of teammates would prefer to delegate, earning the hard ball in the clinches and starting off a play.
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The 25-year-old is a tireless worker defensively with his tackling, smothering and harrying a feature.
Dean didn’t expect to have the medal for best-and-fairest in division 1 bestowed on him at the WRFL’s night of nights last Friday night.
But it was nothing short of what he deserved for a fine season. Dean left everything out on the park and coach Wade Chapman couldn’t have asked for more.
In a league full of quality, offensive-minded onballers, it was good to see a solid two-way player take out the top honour.
Dean made a late dash to the line, polling two best-on-grounds in the last three rounds to edge out ruckmen Wayde Skipper (Hoppers Crossing) and Joel West (St Albans).
“I’m not usually one that catches the umpires’ eye,” Dean said.
“When I realised I was in the top 10 with three rounds to go, it was a bit of a shock.
“I knew I sort of had a good finish to the season and I was lucky enough to poll in those three games, which got me over the line.”
Dean is the first to admit that if you’re looking for a player to provide a large package of highlights, you’re barking up the wrong tree.
Nor are you likely to find him bobbing up for a match-winning goal, with only five for the season, with Dean preferring to leave the goalkicking to the prolific Chris Molivas, Andrew Panayi and Ryan Harrington.
“There’s not one thing in my game that would stand out, to be honest,” he said.
“I like to think of myself as hard working and I pride myself on pressure and tackling and chasing.
“I’m more a defensive midfielder than attacking.”
Until two years ago, Dean was a tight checking defender who could offer some run out of defence.
He’s turned himself into an elite midfielder in the space of 24 months.
Named in the Tigers’ best 18 of a possible 21 times, Dean was far and away the most consistent player in the competition.
He put it down to maturity, understanding his haves and have nots as a footballer.
Having seven preseasons under his belt also helped tune up his motor. “As you get older, you become more comfortable with your own game, you’re more aware of your strengths and weaknesses,” he said.
Dean was one of a number of loyal homegrown Tigers who took the club to the WRFL finals in their first season since crossing from the Victorian Amateur Football Association.
Like many of his teammates, he first played for the club in the under-9s and gets a thrill out of playing alongside lifelong friends.
“I’ll be there as long as I can,” Dean said.
“It’s close to home and all the people I played with in juniors have come up as well.
“We’re all pretty closeknit and that’s not just at the footy club, it’s all through the year. Through the summer we all catch up.”
