West Coast star Tom Barrass says he’s honored but not happy after capping off a brilliant individual season by winning the John Worsfold medal among the Eagles’ 2-20 season horror run.
Barrass, 26, was named the club’s best and most loyal player on Friday with 33 votes. But as grateful as he was to have received the award, he could not be satisfied after the club’s worst season.
“It’s definitely something you’re proud of and it’s good to be honored among great players and it’s something I will treasure,” said Barrass.
“But I’m not happy with how we played as a team and I’m not happy with where we ended the season. My ambition in the future is to improve.
Barrass admitted he was disappointed that he lost the All-Australian selection, having been the only recognized Eagle on the enlarged squad of 44.
“I was really honored to be nominated for the team,” he said.
“I didn’t consider myself the type of player capable of doing that, so disappointing as it was to lose myself, I was really happy with the appointment.”
The key defender called 2022 a “disappointing year” for the club, which lost 20 games and finished 17th in the standings, narrowly avoiding a second wooden spoon.
“I got involved a little bit more than I would have liked (as a backman),” he said.
“But I think we started seeing evidence in our systems towards the end of the year, to build on that to become a really competitive top eight team, that’s the plan for the future. Before.”
Three of the top five finalists in the vote count were defenders, with veteran and Premiership captain Shannon Hurn finishing second for a second time, 13 years after finishing second in 2009.
Barrass made a special mention to the 2018 Premiership captain in his victory speech, with the 34-year-old set to sign a new one-year contract to remain at the club next season.
“Shannon Hurn taught me to be the best I could be and to be the best Tom Barrass type I could be – and no one else,” Barrass said.
“I think it’s something he does very well, which will be his legacy when he leaves the club: to bring out the best in yourself and in you inherently.
“And I enjoyed playing under him, both as a captain and as a senior backline (leader).
Barrass became the first key defender to win the award since Eric Mackenzie and has given the 2014 club champion a significant role in his development.
“Eric Mackenzie was the best key defender when I first joined the club and he was pretty central to my development,” he said.
As I said, it is such an honor to be mentioned among these names. It’s something I think I will appreciate and think about as I get older.