David Cowan Doubles Up

Boyup Brook’s David Cowan claimed his second consecutive LSWFL League Best & Fairest Tyrepower Manjimup Medal at the league’s awards night last night. Cowan polled 45 votes to claim the award over Bridgetown’s Brett Wilson by 8 votes.

Cowan came into the count as one of the favourites, after an outstanding follow up season to his 52 vote effort in 2023, that netted him his first award. Cowan added a greater threat on the scoreboard in 2024 than his award winning 2023, with return of 48 goals in the regular season, as Boyup Brook topped the table.

Cowan started the night with a bang, already topping the leader board after Round 3, with 10 votes to his name after two Best on Ground performances leading into Boyup Brook’s Round 3 bye. Also amongst the early vote getters was Southerners’ Alex Cabassi, who had 9 votes at the first juncture in voting to only trail Cowan by 1. The pair had already opened up a lead on Deanmill trio Callum East, Nicholas Gleeson and Daniel Tamm with 5 votes, while Kojonup’s Jamie Marinoni and Tyler Ipsen from the Magpies also had 5 on the board.

By Round 6, Cowan had amassed 20 votes to streak away from Bridgetown’s Brett Wilson on 13, while his Roos team mate, Matthew Thompson had jumped onto the leader board with 12. While the Roos went down to Bridgetown in Round 6 by 25 points, Thompson’s 8 goal haul still caught attention.

12 rounds in and Cowan had a healthy total of 32, while Wilson was doing his bets to keep pace, racking up 27 votes despite Bridgetown struggling for form. Imperials’ Harry Curtin had also jumped to equal second on the leader board at this point, while Thompson was still 4th on 20 votes, but the top three was starting to create a gap to the rest.

Three rounds later and Cowan had sealed the deal, a further 13 votes in three games seeing him bolt out to 45 votes, with Wilson closest on 32 but with only one game left to play for Bridgetown. The Bridgetown skipper did poll another 5 votes, but still fell 8 short of the Roos’ powerhouse, who went back to back in the Tyrepower Manjimup Medal in just his third season back in green and white.

Wilson held on for 2nd, while Gleeson ended the count with 13 votes to secure himself the Under 21 Best & Fairest.