SA country and local footy 2021 Mail Medal and league best and fairest winners
From ex-AFL captains to modern day country legends, top players across SA have been recognised this month for their outstanding seasons. See 2021’s best here.
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South Australia’s top community footballers have been recognised for their outstanding seasons with league best and fairest awards handed out in the past month.
From the country footy tradition that is the Mail Medal to high individual honours from the suburban competitions, here are the A grade winners from every league across the state in 2021.
ADELAIDE FOOTY LEAGUE – Keith Sims OAM Medal
Division One
Jack Trengove (Prince Alfred Old Collegians)
It was a tighter count than many expected but former AFL captain Jack Trengove did enough to win the Adelaide Footy League’s top individual honour – the Keith Sims OAM Medal.
Trengove’s 17 votes were enough to beat out Tea Tree Gully’s Chad Schoenmakers and Port District’s ineligible Louis Sharrad by three votes.
He also claimed the best on ground medal in last Saturday’s grand final victory.
The 30-year-old said the 2021 season was the most enjoyable he’s ever had.
ADELAIDE PLAINS
Luke Barnett (Two Wells)
The Roosters not only took out the Adelaide Plains flag but also produced their second medallist in three seasons.
Luke Barnett’s 25 votes placed him four ahead of Mallala’s Will Paynter.
BAROSSA, LIGHT & GAWLER – Schluter Medal
Harrison Elbrow (Willaston)
Donnybrooks midfielder Harry Elbrow notched 19 votes to just beat out star duo Josh Wittwer (South Gawler) and Charlie Molyneux (Gawler Central) to the Schluter Medal.
Elbrow and Willaston will hope to secure the club its first A grade premiership since 1999 when they take on South Gawler in the BLG grand final this Saturday.
EASTERN EYRE
Ryley Maitland (Kimba Districts)
Tigers gun Ryley Maitland became a dual Mail Medallist earlier this month after attracting a commanding 32 votes to take out the 2021 award.
It adds to his 2019 honour.
Kimba Districts was not so successful in the Eastern Eyre grand final on Saturday however, falling to Ports by eight points.
FAR NORTH
Jack Rigden (Hornridge)
A three-peat of flags and a three-peat of Mail Medals – it’s been a pretty successful few years for Hornridge.
Jack Rigden joined fellow Magpies Brendan Lehmann (2019) and Ashley Baxter (2018) in winning the award, which was not handed out last year.
Teammate finished runner-up, such was the club’s dominance this campaign.
Hornidge also swept to it’s third-straight Far North premiership last month.
GREAT FLINDERS
Matthew Williams (Elliston Districts)
In the combined club’s first season in the Great Flinders Football League, Elliston Districts’ Matthew Williams claimed the Mail Medal with 18 votes.
It was the first time an Elliston player has won a Mail Medal.
The club – an amalgamation of Elliston and Western Districts made its debut in the league this competition after the Mid West Football League disbanded.
GREAT SOUTHERN
Brett Ellis (McLaren)
No one has dominated a medal count quite like McLaren’s Brett Ellis over the past two seasons.
The Eagles ball magnet won his second consecutive GSFL Mail Medal last month with his 27 votes 10 ahead of Mount Compass duo Nick Mott and Matthew Skrypek.
Ellis polled 22 in last year’s win – also finishing 10 ahead of his closest rival.
HILLS
Division One
Jackson Hooper (Bridgewater Callington)
After the Raiders’ first season back in division one of the Hills, Jackson Hooper claimed the Mail Medal with 24 votes on Wednesday night.
He finished three ahead of Hahndorf’s Sam Williams.
Country Division
Sam Hanna (Gumeracha), Luke Watson (Meadows)
There was a tie in Wednesday night’s Hills country division count.
Former Central District man Sam Hanna and Meadows’ Luke Watson could not be split, attracting 24 votes each.
KANGAROO ISLAND
Edward Colley (Dudley United)
Nine votes was enough for Dudley United’s Edward Colley to take out the KIFL Mail Medal following an eight round home and away season.
The Eagles gun crossed to the club this season after playing for St Peter’s Old Collegians in the Adelaide Footy League.
Colley finished in front of Wisanger pair Liam Sampson and Luke Stewart.
KOWREE NARACOORTE TATIARA – Virgo Mail Medal
Mark Quinn (Border Districts)
It was a tough season collectively for Border Districts but a stellar individual one for Mark Quinn.
He took out the KNTFL Virgo Mail Medal for the eighth-ranked Eagles while Keith’s Will McMurray came in second place.
MALLEE
Nathan Brown (Karoonda)
A two-horse race in the Mallee ended with Karoonda’s Nathan Brown pipping Pinnaroo’s Shannon Jenner.
Brown attracted 21 votes to finish four ahead of Shannon on 17. Next closest was Shannon’s teammate Alex Keough with 12.
MID SOUTH EASTERN
Joe Ferguson-Lane (Hatherleigh)
Hatherleigh big man Joe Ferguson-Lane had little competition as he streaked to 27 votes and the MSE Mail Medal.
The Eagle was a clear winner ahead of Glencoe’s Dylan Childs (15) and Kalangadoo’s Tye McManus (14).
NORTH EASTERN
Matthew Longbottom (BSR)
Brinkworth Spalding Redhills’ Matthew Longbottom has been one of the driving forces for the grand final-bound Tigers and was a deserved winner of the NEFL’s Mail Medal earlier this week.
The former Woodville-West Torrens player polled 28 votes with RSMU’s Levi Krause and Min-Man’s Charles Riggs joint runners-up with 15. Southern Saints’ Blake Launer had 21 votes but was ineligible.
NORTHERN AREAS
Alek Kangur (BMW)
Booleroo-Melsore-Wilmington may only have won six games this season but its playing coach Alek Kangur was dominant through the campaign to with the Northern Areas top gong.
The Lions midfielder kicked 15 goals from 17 matches and was named in his side’s best players in all but one game in 2021.
PORT LINCOLN
Jordan Clements (Marble Range)
Marble Range’s Jordan Clement is no stranger to a Mail Medal.
The Magpie, who joined the club this season, won the Port Lincoln Football League’s highest individual honour earlier this month to add to a pair of Adelaide Plains Mail Medals at another black and white club in Mallala.
RIVERLAND – Whillas Medal
Tim Woolford (Renmark Rovers)
He’s been a star for Renmark and Tim Woolford has added a Whillas Medal for the Riverland Football League’s best and fairest.
The Rovers midfielder finished ahead of Loxton’s William Gutsche and Waikerie’s Jack Grieger.
RIVER MURRAY
Blake Tabe (Mannum)
The Mannum half-back had a terrific season to take out the RMFL’s Mail Medal in front of a pair of SANFL guns in joint runners-up Ben Hansen (Tailem Bend) and Josh Scott (Jervois).
Along with his 22 votes, Tabe was also recognised with the mark of the year award.
SOUTHERN
Robert Irra (Reynella)
Former South Adelaide player Robert Irra’s first year at Reynella saw him claim the SFL Mail Medal.
Irra – the younger brother of former Port Adelaide rookie Emmanuel – polled 19 votes after helping drive the Wineflies to second on the ladder and a preliminary final.
SPENCER GULF
Jonathan Hayes (Solomontown)
Just two votes separated a Solomontown duo who were also former teammates at North Adelaide in the Spencer Gulf’s Madigan Medal.
Jonathon Hayes attracted 19 votes to beat out Corey Davey (17) to the league best and fairest award, with West Augusta’s Tye Starkey-Treloar in third (16).
WESTERN BORDER – Brian Hennessey Medal
Clinton Gallio (Millicent)
There was another one-two from the same club in the Western Border count earlier this week.
Millicent coach Clinton Gallio polled 17 votes to trump his captain Jacob Carger by two and win the Brian Hennessey Medal.
And the Saints, who will play South Gambier in the grand final this Saturday, didn’t stop there.
Sam Willis won best under-21 player and gun forward Gene Robinson took out the leading goal kicker award.
WESTERN EYRE
Dom Denton (Thevenard)
It is now three Mail Medal’s for Thevenard star Dom Denton.
The Magpie added to his 2015 and 2019 triumphs by polling 33 votes to take out the Western Eyre Football League’s top individual award.
WHYALLA - Jim Hewitson Medal
Steven Jackson (Weeroona Bay)
Steven Jackson only polled in six out of 16 rounds but it was best on ground performances which got him over the line to win the WFL’s Jim Hewitson Medal.
The Weeroona Bay man picked up three votes in five matches and two in another to finish with 17 votes and the best and fairest award.
YORKE PENINSULA
Murphy Short (CMS Crows)
He returned to the club this year and CMS Crows midfielder Murphy Short did not disappoint.
After a strong season with Rostrevor Old Collegians in the Adelaide Footy League in 2020, Short polled 21 votes to claim the YPFL Mail Medal.
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