After consecutive seasons as runner-up in the Magarey Medal — the SANFL’s league best-and-fairest-award — a former Shepparton footballer has finally had his time in the sun after a move to a new state league.
Shepparton 2018 premiership hero Nik Rokahr has claimed this year’s Sandover Medal — the WAFL’s league best-and-fairest award — in a tie with Claremont’s Callan England
Rokahr made the move to Western Australia from South Australia for the 2024 season for family and work reasons.
The decision to leave SANFL club Norwood, where he was a two-time best-and-fairest winner and premiership player, would have been difficult for Rokahr, but it is already paying dividends.
Rokahr joined WAFL side Swan Districts for the 2024 season and soon became a bona-fide star of the league.
On Monday night, the star midfielder was awarded the heralded Sandover.
The gun Swan said his last few days had been a whirlwind.
“It’s been pretty full on with a lot of interviews and a fair bit of media, so it hasn’t been an overly normal couple of days for me, but I’m starting to get back into reality now,” Rokahr said.
“It’s quite nice and humbling, but it’s pretty full on.
“When you are a new player to a league, it can take a bit of time off field to get recognised.
“I knew with it being my first year in the league it might be a bit hard (to get votes), but the umpires recognised what I was doing and came through with the goods.”
This season, Rokahr leads the WAFL for possessions per game, averaging 30 across 20 matches.
Rokahr, alongside Swans teammate and Shepparton United product Jye Chalcraft (tied seventh in the Sandover), has led Swan Districts back up the ladder this season.
The Swans are set to play Peel Thunder for a spot in the grand final this Sunday.
Despite not polling much early in the season, Rokahr came with a vengeance in the second half of the season to lead the count by two votes with one round remaining.
South Fremantle star and 2017 Sandover Medallist Haiden Schloithe was the only player who could steal the medal from Rokahr’s grasp, but the Swans star was able to hold on and claim the prestigious award.
With a successful season for his new club and the Sandover Medal draped around his neck, it would be easy to label Rokahr’s move to Perth as a success, but the star Swan doesn’t want to let personal achievements alter his emotions.
“I don’t like to let things like this (Sandover Medal) dictate how I feel about the move (to WA),” he said.
“It’s pretty cool coming over and being able to achieve something like this, but it doesn’t all of a sudden change whether I am really happy or not happy.
“Overall, I have really enjoyed Perth; it’s a beautiful city and football is going pretty well for us at the moment.”
Rokahr said he is still connected with his roots in Shepparton and with the Bears.
The bullocking midfielder said he was recently back in town watching Shepparton play during a WAFL bye round.
“I was hoping the game would be at Deakin Reserve, I won’t lie, but the boys were playing Rochester at Rochester, so I definitely wanted to go out there and see that,” he said.
“Couple of the boys and myself drove out and watched them get a good win against ‘Rochy’.
“I wish luck to my Shepparton boys this week.
“Hopefully, they can get the win this week and move on to the ‘granny’.”
Fellow 2018 Shepparton premiership player Harry Boyd has also had a reason to celebrate, with the talented ruckman claiming the SANFL’s Magarey Medal for Norwood on Monday night.
Boyd and Rokahr were also teammates at the Redlegs and won a premiership together at the club in 2022.
This season, Boyd has been a dominant force for Norwood, averaging 20.7 disposals, 41.5 hit-outs and 10 clearances across 18 matches.
Boyd was a tied winner of the 2024 Magarey Medal alongside Sturt’s Will Snelling, former Essendon player.
Norwood’s star ruckman won the side’s best-and-fairest in 2022 and will have a chance to add another SANFL premiership medal to his collection when the Redlegs play in the grand final on September 22.