It was an outstanding effort by the just-turned 20-year-old, who only failed to poll a vote in three games.
He caught the umpires’ attention on nine occasions - just one less than winner Nathan Kinch – to finish with 14 votes.
Proud played 12 times for the Suncoast and seven matches at AFL level with the Brisbane Lions.
Morningside midfield utility Kinch, who stands just 172cm and 70kg, finished with 25 votes to finish ahead of Zillmere’s Matthew Payne (21), Southport’s Danny Wise (21), Mt Gravatt wingman Rohan Bail (19) and Broadbeach rover Dayne Zorko (17).
Proud was within five votes of the leaders after polling six times in seven weeks, before a call-up to the seniors stopped his run.
Proud’s attack on the ball was first class in most of his Suncoast appearances and the biggest surprise was that he did not poll one three-vote, all coming in ones and predominantly twos.
Team-mate Scott Harding finished equal seventh on nine votes in a count where the votes were spread far and wide outside of the top six.
Despite a strong start to the year, Harding polling eight of his votes in three of the last four matches of the season.
Proud, Clouston and Bradd Dalziell were all included in the Velocity Sports Cup Team of the Year, announced at the AFLQ Awards Night at the Royal on the Park Hotel last night.
Proud was named the ruck-rover, Dalziell on a half-forward flank, and Clouston on the interchange.
Former Brisbane Lions star Darryl White capped his third and best season in the State League competition with selection in the Team of the Year.
His Mt Gravatt teammate Bail, 20, won the local NAB Rising Star Award ahead of 18-year-old Southport national draft tip Dayne Beams.
Votes were cast by three AFLQ officials, three AFL club recruiting managers and the eight Velocity Sports Cup coaches.
Bail, who played State football for Queensland against WA in Townsville, polled 66 votes to head Beams (53), Zorko (33) and Morningside’s Adam Spackman (22).
Minor premiers Mt Gravatt meet Morningside in the preliminary final at Coorparoo on Sunday, with the winners meeting Southport in the grand final at Carrara the following week.
Grogan Medal top 11 placegetters:
25 Nathan Kinch (Morningside)
21 Matthew Payne (Zillmere)
21 Daniel Wise (Southport)
19 Rohan Bail (Mt Gravatt)
17 Dayne Zorko (Broadbeach)
14 Albert Proud (Suncoast)
9 Kent Abey (Morningside)
9 Scott Harding (Suncoast)
9 Austin Lucy (Zillmere)
9 Darren O’Brien (Southport)
9 Brett Sinclair (Southport)
