The former Young Saints footballer in his debut season for the Blues finished with 109 votes, 18 votes clear of Stephen Chant with last year’s winner Phil Bird a further 20 votes away in third.

The vote count was held at the Family Hotel on Saturday.

Herzich, a pint-sized onballer, had a steller season with the Blues. He polled votes in 12 of the 14 matches the Blues played.

The only two matches Herzich did not poll in were against ADFA/RMC where he was injured, and he failed to poll any votes in the last match against Ainslie.

The halfway mark of the season Herzich led by 20 votes. Prior to playing with the Blues, Herzich, 21, had played his entire senior football career with Young, where he won two consecutive best & fairests in 2013 and 2014.

Chant again finished in the top three, continuing his great career with the Blues. Debuting in 2006, he was runner- up to James Quarmby; from 2007-12, he won six consecutive B&Fs. He finished third in 2013 and sixth in 2014.

First year player Sam Baldock had a great season playing the majority of the season in the ruck finished a credible fourth.        

Top ten: 109 Sam Herzich, 91 Stephen Chant, 71 Phil Bird, 62 Sam Baldock, 53 Ryan Miller, 52 Joel Bradbury, 47 Joel Pearson, 45  Dylan McDermott, 39 Chris Drum, 23 Mick Knagge.