This time Thomas Broich got to keep the Joe Marston Medal after steering Brisbane Roar to A-League glory.
But the Brisbane playmaker could still empathise with Iacopo La Rocca after the Western Sydney midfielder left the Suncorp Stadium podium empty-handed despite sharing grand final man of the match honours on Sunday night.
Broich was locked on 16 votes with La Rocca in the aftermath of Brisbane's stunning come-from-behind 2-1 extra-time grand final win over the Wanderers.
It was the first medal count tie in the A-League's nine-year history - much to the surprise of officials.
Only one medal was created and Broich was the lucky - and popular - sole recipient standing next to an envious La Rocca when the winners were announced in front of a sold out crowd.
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A medal will be created for La Rocca at a later date.
At least Broich could savour the medal this time around.
The German maestro received the honour at the same spot after Brisbane's second championship win back in 2012.
The thing is, Broich had not won it.
In another incident that left officials scratching their heads, Broich was mistakenly handed the 2012 Medal despite Perth's Jacob Burns topping the votes.
Instead of soaking up the atmosphere in front of a packed grandstand, a less than impressed Burns later received the medal in the less atmospheric surrounds of the post-match press conference in the bowels of Suncorp Stadium.
Broich may have shared the honour on Sunday night, but there was one winner in the eyes of Roar coach Mike Mulvey.
"He is so humble yet so driven," Mulvey said of Broich, who set up Besart Berisha's 86th minute equaliser that sent the match into extra-time.
"He was the architect (on Sunday night).
"He is right up there with the best if not the best import we have ever had.
"But the best thing about him is that he wants to get better."
Broich will no doubt receive more praise when the Roar are honoured by a tickertape parade in Brisbane's CBD on Tuesday.
