A month to the day since the death of Frank Fopiani, AFL Barwon has revealed it will honour the local football great by naming the best-on-ground medal in the GFNL grand final after him.
An equal record eight-time premiership player, Fopiani lost a short battle with colorectal cancer on August 26, bringing it with an outpouring of tributes.
A Corio junior, he joined North Shore in 1993 and won the first of a GFNL best three grand final best-on-ground medals that year as the Seagulls defeated Lara.
Fopiani won his second best-on-ground medal in 1995 as North Shore commenced the most dominant run in competition history, which resulted in six consecutive premierships.
During the six-year run, Fopiani won five best-and-fairest awards with the Seagulls, including four in a row.
His third best-on-ground medal came as playing coach of St Mary’s in 2004 when the Saints snapped a 12-year premiership drought by beating North Shore.
Fopiani was also a regular interleague representative.
“Our family has been overwhelmed by the thoughts, messages and prayers of everyone in the
Geelong football community since Frank passed,” Fopiani’s wife Sylvia said.
“He was a loving husband, father and friend, and he will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
“This award speaks to the legacy Frank leaves behind, and we thank AFL Barwon for the
gesture.
“You can’t stop the Fop.”
Fopiani’s honour comes as AFL Barwon prepares to have several awards across football and netball named after those who have made a significant contribution to the region.
“Everyone in local football was shocked and saddened by Frank’s recent passing,” AFL Barwon chair Michelle Gerdtz said.”
“Frank was an amazing footballer but more importantly he was a wonderful person, and his
standing in the football community across our region speaks for itself.
“His record as a player in GFL Grand Finals is unrivalled and it is fitting that we recognise the
enormous contribution Frank made to our competition”.
The first medal will be presented after tomorrow’s Leopold-South Barwon decider by Frank’s son Connor.
Click this link for more details on the nomination process
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