Victorian and former Geelong Falcon/Werribee Tiger James Allan has won his 3rd Magarey Medal.
NORTH Adelaide's Allan has joined an elite group of South Australian footballers in winning his third Magarey Medal.
Allan, 26, who had won the coveted award as the SANFL's fairest and most brilliant player in 2007 and last year, polled 25 votes to defeat South Adelaide on-baller Nick Liddle by two votes with Central District captain Paul Thomas - the 2004 medallist - third on 22.
He is the eighth player since the inception of the award in 1898 to have won three Magarey Medals.
Allan's victory came with the last call of the night in North Adelaide's Round 23 clash against reigning premier Central District.
Runner-up Liddle held a one-point lead when awarded three votes in the Panther's upset win against Norwood in the final round before Allen was adjudged best-on-ground against the Bulldogs in the last match of the minor round.
He had been well fancied and backed to take out the SANFL's prized award with bookmakers suspending win betting on Allan about a week ago.
Allan now joins the likes of another North Adelaide champion Barrie Robran who took out the 1968, 70 and 73 Magarey Medals.
Port Adelaide's Russell Ebert is a four-time winner of the prestigious medal (1971, 74, 76 and 80) while others in that rarified echelon of SANFL greats are: Tom MacKenzie (1902, 05, 06); Dan Moriarty (1919-21); Wat Scott (1921, 24, 30); Len Fitzgerald (1952, 54, 59) and Lindsay Head who was successful in 1955, 58 and 63.
