PINJARRA ruckman Tom Harper became just the second player to win two Ross Elliott Medals when he topped the count with 16 votes with Tim Bruce on Monday night.
“At the moment it’s a little bit surreal,” Harper said.
“To be one of only two dual medal winners with Rowan Arnott, a ruckman as well, it’s a really nice feeling.”
Harper almost didn’t go to the vote count with the 30-year-old in training to be a fireman.
“I had a pretty physical day of training on Tuesday,” Harper said.
“Before the night I was almost ready to pull the pin.”
Luckily for Harper he decided to put up with the lack of sleep and attend the vote count even though he had no idea he was in with a chance of winning.
“I didn’t think I had that great of a season,” Harper said.
“I play in the ruck and being that little bit shorter I might get noticed.”
Harper said he thought his 2012 Ross Elliott medal-winning season at South Mandurah was more consistent; that season Harper tied with Theo Adams on 21 votes.
“At South Mandurah we had eight to 10 guys that really shone but at Pinjarra we probably have 15 to 18 guys that really stand out, it’s very even” Harper said.
“I thought Aron Greenham was the most consistent, we had Mackenzie [O’Brien], [Brayden] Sutton, Gallas [Paul Galloway], the boys from Peel, [Dean and Robert] Beswick, [Matt] Battye and the list goes on.”
Harper had a late start to football with the talented athlete a junior high jumper.
“I played footy with Harvey Brunswick when I was eight but then went to athletics,” Harper said.
“I won two and placed second three times at state high jump contests.”
Skills Harper said he been able has transferred to football.
Harper returned to football when he was 16 with the South Mandurah Colts.
“My first year at Colts I didn’t get many games,” Harper said.
However Harper soon found his feet in football, gaining selection in Peel Thunder Colts.
Harper split his time with South Mandurah and Peel until he moved to the South Bunbury Football Club when he was 22.
Harper played for South Bunbury for three years before moving back to South Mandurah to play with a mate.
“I had a good mate from Peel Thunder [playing at South Mandurah], Clinton Heal who was a little bit crook at the time and he didn’t know how long he would be able to play for,” Harper said.
“I wanted to at least play one more year with him; he is still playing today so he’s going well.”
Harper made the decision to move to Pinjarra last year.
“I had a lot of mates at the club from Peel, it’s a good club and it is easier for me to get to commute to from Canning Vale,” he said.
For Harper Pinjarra could be where he ends his career, as early as this season.
“I’m almost ready to give it up,” he said.
“If we win the grand final it would be a great way to go out; on top.
“With the new job being a fire fighter I would miss a lot of games, it quite demanding.”
If it were to be his last game come grand final day Harper would leave the Peel Football League as one of the best players to have played.
