Karratha Falcons’ Kenton Smiler claims the North Pilbara Football League De Grey Medal for 2022

Karratha Falcons star Kenton Smiler has etched his name in the history books and is now among the top players in the North Pilbara Football League after claiming his first De Grey Medal. The 2022 De Grey Medal for the league’s best-and-fairest player was Smiler’s inaugural win at league level. Smiler led the count with 18 votes, ahead of Wickham Wolves’ Tim Renton (16 votes) and Dampier Sharks’ Guy Langdon (15 votes). He now joins the likes of Langdon, Kats’ Ben Main, Lewis Upton and six-time winner Michael Formanczyk as a recipient of the award. Speaking to the Pilbara News, Smiler said he never thought he would get the opportunity to win a De Grey Medal. “It’s a massive honour for myself, massive achievement,” he said. “I’m very proud of myself, I’ve worked pretty hard all year for it.” The 21-year-old has been playing in the Falcons league squad since he was 16 and said the focus now turned to the club’s finals tilt. “The Falcons haven’t played finals in league for eight years so it’s a big achievement for not only myself, but for our club,” he said. Smiler said he originally played soccer when he was younger but fell in love with football and never looked back. “I probably won’t stop playing for like another like 10 years. I love it too much, I love coming to training every week and love seeing the boys and how yards with them,” he said. In the women’s league the Creighton Medal, awarded to the best-and-fairest player, went to Karratha Kats’ Jaedey Evans. She said it was an honour to win the award named after Karratha sporting legend Jessica Creighton. “I’ve played footy with Creighton ever since I started, she guided me through the last five years,” she said. Looking back at this season, Evans said she was happy to be back in Karratha playing football. “I’m happy to be home to be honest, I was down in Perth at Peel (Thunder) last year and it was just a lot of pressure, so being back up here: it’s home, it’s fun and everyone is family,” she said. “It’s our 50th year so I’m praying all three teams make it through the finals and win the grandy.” In the reserves, the Colin Matheson Award went to Kats’ Tom Mckittrick and coach of the year was awarded to Dampier women’s coach Shane McIntosh.