EDFL: Will Jury, Gemma Wright, Tyson Young, Shaun McKernan among winners
A young gun snared the EDFL’s top award, a star Tiger went back-to-back and big guns shared medals as the league honoured individuals. SEE ALL THE WINNERS.
Essendon
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Strathmore’s domination of the Essendon District Football League has continued.
Will Jury (Premier Division Men) and Eloise Freeman (Division One Women) took home their respective league best and fairest at a gala event at Moonee Valley Racing Club on Wednesday night.
Jury was crowned Strathmore’s first R.S. Reynolds Medallist since Dale May in 2006 after he finished 11 votes clear of his nearest eligible challenger with 26 votes for the season.
East Keilor ruckman Chris Stewart polled 18 votes but was ruled ineligible due to a suspension earlier in the run.
Last year’s winner Nick Meese was next best on 15 votes with Dion Hill (East Keilor) and Nicholas O’Kearney (Keilor) two votes further year.
The award capped a brilliant season for Jury who played a key role in Strathmore’s first premiership since 2014 and he also took home the Men’s Rising Star award on the night.
Now the 21-year-old is determined to see how far his footy can take him.
“It’s a fantastic league, I’ve a really good time here. I’ve played all of my juniors up until now,” he said.
“I definitely look up to these kind of guys (Meese). It’s pretty awesome coming up against these guys and playing against them.
“My goal is to play the best football I can potentially produce as an individual. I go out there and play the best football possible and train the hardest I can.
“Wherever that takes me, I’m happy to see where it goes because I’m going to leave no stone unturned.”
Despite his own individual success, Jury said the premiership meant so much more.
“Every day of the week, the other medal means a lot more. It’s more about playing the game as a team,” he said.
“Winning this is just a bonus, winning the grand final beats any of this.”
Freeman finished seven votes clear of Strathmore teammate Chiara Guarino in the Division One Women’s count.
It capped off a brilliant year where she won a premiership and was named best on ground in the grand final.
Westmeadows’ Gemma Wright became the first two-time best and fairest in the Premier Division Women’s competition, winning the award with 18 votes.
BIG NAMES TAKE DIVISION ONE
Shaun McKernan (Tullamarine) and Tyson Young (Airport West) were arguably the biggest recruits of the 2022 off-season so it’s only fair they ended the season as joint Hutchison Medal winners.
The star duo both finished on 23 votes apiece, five clear of Moonee Valley gun William Agius.
For Young, it was his second league best-and-fairest with the Eagles having claimed the award five years ago.
He said between then, he had learnt important lessons while in Premier Division.
“The first time was a bit of a shock to be honest, (as a) 19-year-old, second year of senior footy,” he said.
“This year I thought I might have been a chance so I paced myself. It’s great recognition for the year but you don’t play for these awards, you play for the end goal (of a premiership).
“The commitment to playing footy really (was one of the biggest lessons I learnt), it is quite a big a jump.
“Just committing to your fitness, your weights, there’s a lot that goes into it. I think we’ve got the right formula to go up there and be competitive.”
McKernan took home the award in his first season back at local level after a 13-year AFL career.
The three-club AFL veteran produced a strong run home to receive the award.
Many of his votes came after playing more time in the ruck.
“The standard of footy was a lot better than I expected it to be with guys like Tyson running around. He’s a proven Premier Division player so credit to him.
“The best thing was reconnecting with the people I used to play with in particular my best mate Adam Scott, this was going to be his last year of footy, to put on the jumper with him is one of the main reasons that I came back.
“I enjoy going in the ruck, that’s where I find I play my best footy.
“But at the end of the day, I was directed by what he (Demons coach David Connell) wanted to do and I never wanted to undermine him.”
FROM ON-FIELD RIVALS TO JOINT WINNERS
Burnside Heights star Jordan Hughes and Coburg Districts ruckman Cooper Keogh were never scared of exchanging words on the footy field.
On Wednesday night, they were exchanging pleasantries.
The pair were crowned joint Division Two league best and fairest with 22 votes, three clear of Oak Park gun Jedd Taylor.
“It’s great to share it with such a great player, someone I hated on the field,” Keogh joked.
“We were a bit slow to get going this season but then found form and unfortunately went down in the preliminary final.
“It’s nice recognition to get this award.”
Meanwhile, Hughes said he always had one goal in mind for the season.
“I thought I was reasonably consistent, that’s one of the things I wanted to be,” he said.
“Being one of the older guys, I just wanted to be a model of consistency for the younger blokes. Not many externally picked us to do much but we internally thought we would.
“We didn’t really exceed expectations or anything like that. Our goal is to go one step better next year.”
2022 EDFL AWARD WINNERS
Premier Division Men: Will Jury (Strathmore)
Division 1 Men: Shaun McKernan (Tullamarine) and Tyson Young (Airport West)
Division 2 Men: Cooper Keogh (Coburg Districts) and Jordan Hughes (Burnside Heights)
Premier Division Women: Gemma Wright (Westmeadows)
Division 1 Women: Eloise Freeman (Strathmore)
Division 2 Women: Cheyne Macumber (Airport West)
Premier Division reserves: James Rohan (Greenvale)
Division 1 reserves: Trent Crawford (Airport West)
Division 2 reserves: Ray Harrison (Oak Park)
Premier Division under 18.5: Daniel Restuccia (Maribyrnong Park)
Division 1 under 18.5: Iesa Saad (West Coburg)
Division 2 under 18.5: Samuel Kosmak (Northern Saints)
Under 18.5 women: Kiera Leare (Hillside)
Thirds: Sean Morrow (Hillside)
Netball: Kaila Saker (Rupertswood)
Club Administrator of the Year: Naomi Banks (Coburg Districts)
EDFL Club of the Year: Airport West
Umpire of the Year: Alex Turner
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