TWO FAMILIES – A QUARTET OF CENTRAL DISTRICT LEAGUE BEST AND FAIRESTS

Club News » TWO FAMILIES – A QUARTET OF CENTRAL DISTRICT LEAGUE BEST AND FAIRESTS

TWO FAMILIES – A QUARTET OF CENTRAL DISTRICT LEAGUE BEST AND FAIRESTS

By Peter Argent

The Schiller brothers are the second set of siblings at Central District to win the clubs top individual best and fairest.
They follow Barry and Mark Norsworthy as winners of this prestigious award.
Older brother and state rover Barry was the first Bulldog to collect back-to-back wins of the best and fairest in the 1975-76 seasons and had a 158-games career in the red, white and blue.
Mark played 180 games with the Bulldogs from 1975 and won the top nod in 1980 and was also the leading goal kicking that year.
In his opening season of league football, 1969, Barry was the clubs leading goal kicker as well, although we won the award with just 20 majors.
The Norsworthy siblings played together at senior level in 1975-1976 and again in 1979-80, when Barry returned from a stint with the Melbourne Football Club.
Barry was rewarded with playing Life Membership in his final season,1980, while Mark received the same honour in 1985.
In just his second year of league football Travis Schiller collected the 2015 Norm Russell Medal beating home veteran co-captain Paul Thomas by five votes.
Winning this award he created a little piece of history at SANFL level for his family that many never be equalled.
Last year older sibling Jarrod won the Bulldogs highest honour, and again Travis has followed in his footsteps.
“CJ (Chris Jansen) was leading the award until he got injured, then ‘Thomo’ (Paul Thomas) took over and we swapped that around a bit towards the end of the count,” Travis Schiller explained.
“Naturally it’s a privilege to win the award, as it has been won by a number of great players over the years.
“I was a little patchy this year – there were spikes – I’d have a couple of good matches then be flat for a game.
“I’d like to be more consistent over the course of next season.”
What makes the Schiller brothers efforts unique has both have also won the Powerade SANFL rookie of this year trophy.
Jarrod collected this accolade back in 2011 and Travis last year.
Both hail from the Nuriootpa Tigers in the heart of the Barossa in the Bulldogs country zone, where they were key players in junior premierships.
Jarrod won the 2008 Dean Tobitt medal as best on ground in the Nuriootpa Senior Colts victory
Not to be outdone Travis was the Mickan Medallist in the 2009 Nuriootpa Tigers Junior Colts flag.
Both were SANFL state representatives at the under 18s national titles.
Noted as a big game performer from a young age, Travis Schiller was amazing in his first SANFL final this year against Norwood with 37 disposals.
There was already a hint of ability of his big game performer with a best on ground effort in the All Schools knockout cup final on 2009 when Nuriootpa High won the title at Woodville Oval.
Both were member of SA under 18s national campaigns as well.
“We have a strong relationship, but don’t need to talk to each other,” Travis Schiller said about his association with his brother.
“Jarrod is a man of very few words.
“He is a lot more introverted than me.
“I am a better tennis player than Jarrod.”
Travis Schiller also won the coveted Daniel Hulm Memorial Trophy the Most Courageous league player in 2015.
Not to be outdone Jarrod has won the Danny Hulm Memorial Trophy twice, last year and 2012. Older brother Jarrod has been a regular state player, except for injury since 2012, while Travis has a SANFL reserves Magarey Medal and a seconds premiership in 2012.