The award, for the best-and-fairest Port Pirie footballer, was announced in Port Augusta at the Madigan Medal count.

The Madigan Medal, for the leading Spencer Gulf League player, was won by Central Augusta ruckman Mark Fuller.

The count was close right to the end with Fuller taking it out by four votes.

More than 300 people packed Central Augusta Football Club to celebrate the season’s best players.

As counting neared its end, Marsland, Nick Collins from West Augusta and Fuller were all on 13 points.

The tension was rising in the room, but Fuller jumped ahead in the final rounds.

The Dyason Medal for B grade was won by Josh Keain, of Port, with 12 votes, the Bishop medal for under 18s went to Dempsey Kelly, of West Augusta, with 22 votes and the the Ken Mitchell goal-kicking award was taken by Tyson Hornshell with 56 goals.

Kendall and Marsland each ended with 13 votes.

Marsland ended in fourth position and Kendall in fifth for the Madigan Medal, but spirits were high for both even though they had to share the glory.

“I have to share, but I don’t mind. I still won the award,” Marsland said at the count.

Marsland has played for the Lions for the past five years and is a product of the junior ranks.“I didn’t think I would win so I am happy,” he said.

Lions chairman Greg Congdon said today Marsland was “in the thick of things” on the field and was hard and aggressive.