Best and fairests: The main hopes to win major country footy league medals in 2023

Meet the players in contention for country footy’s most sought-after honours, as best-and-fairest vote counts approach.

They are the most sought-after individual honours in country football.

The medals awarded to the best and fairest players in country football’s major leagues have been won by some of the greatest players outside the AFL.

The country football season has crossed the halfway mark and so has voting in coveted awards such as Bendigo’s Michelsen Medal, Ballarat’s Henderson Medal, Hampden’s Maskell Medal and Gippsland’s Trood Award and Rodda Medal.

The Weekly Times showcases those in contention to be added to the honour rolls in each major league in coming months.

BALLARAT

Darley’s Brett Bewley playing against Darley in the Ballarat league. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Anyone who polled 29 votes, to romp home ahead of his nearest rivals by 13, like Darley star Brett Bewley did last season can’t be discounted.

The former Fremantle midfielder has again played the majority of matches for Darley, which was unbeaten until stumbling against North Ballarat two weeks ago when he was named the Devils’ best player.

One of his opponents from that match, Riley Polkinghorne, is also a contender for Henderson Medal honours with nine mentions in the Roosters’ best players in all nine matches played.

Melton South’s Cody Chapman also could feature prominently in the count.

BENDIGO

Eaglehawk's Billy Evans playing against Kyneton in the Bendigo league. Picture: SAA Imaging (supplied).

Aside from losing matches by close margins, another constant for Eaglehawk this season has been the form of midfielder Billy Evans.

He polled 13 votes last year to finish six behind the winner, Strathfieldsaye’s Jake Moorhead, and would become the first Eaglehawk winner since Brodie Filo in 2015 if successful.

Evans started the season strongly and has still been prominent since the Borough hit a rough patch of narrow losses and a draw against previously undefeated Sandhurst.

Last year’s runner-up, Gisborne’s Brad Bernacki, has played mostly with Essendon’s VFL team, but another Gisborne player, Flynn Lakey, has enjoyed a good season.

CENTRAL MURRAY

Balranald produced the winner of last year’s Jack Betts Medal and has another contender in former SANFL midfielder Ethan Gant.

The speedster started the season in brilliant form, but will have competition for votes from reigning Betts medallist and Kangaroos coach Jydon Neagle and his younger brother Matt, in a season where they’ve climbed to second spot on the ladder.

Dual Betts medallist Matthew Wade has had a solid season for Swan Hill as have Kerang’s Josh Nitschke and Rylee Smith.

GEELONG

Leopold’s Marcus Thompson.

Leopold star Marcus Thompson is again in the mix to go one better in the Mathieson Medal count after three runner-up finishes including last year when overtaken in the last round of the season by St Mary’s midfielder Harry Benson.

But competition will not only come from Leopold midfield mate Logan Wagener, but also from St Joseph’s Alex Hickey and Newton & Chilwell’s Matthew Boag.

With Benson playing mostly with Geelong’s VFL team, St Mary’s best hope could be Jarryd Garner.

GIPPSLAND

Wonthaggi's Ryan Sparkes takes possession against Traralgon. Picture: Daniel Heathcote (supplied)

Wonthaggi star Ryan Sparkes has rocketed into favouritism for the Trood Award and Rodda Medal with a stunning first half of the season.

He held a commanding 12-vote lead in the league’s best player award after round 10 following another scintillating 38-possession game against Maffra.

Originally from Inverloch-Kongwak, Sparkes’ dream start to the season has played no small part in the Power being firmly in the mix for their first flag in the Gippsland league.

Leongatha’s Tom Marriott is a proven vote getter and Moe’s Ben Daniher could also poll well in his first season in the league.

GOULBURN VALLEY

Former Carlton and Western Bulldogs player Will Hayes has starred for Euroa in the Goulburn Valley league. Picture: Matthew Mills (supplied).

Euroa dynamo Will Hayes has been the popular choice to win the Morrison Medal since the early rounds of the season.

Returning to the Magpies from stints at Carlton and the Western Bulldogs, Hayes was always going to be in the mix for the award won by Seymour players Ben Rigoni and Jack O’Sullivan the previous two seasons.

Rochester’s Joe Atley has played well in a team that has battled for wins and Kyabram’s Kaine Herbert consistently attracts plenty of votes.

HAMPDEN

Port Fairy’s resurrection as an on-field force this season could also lead to the club producing its first Maskell Medal winner in almost 40 years.

Michael Taylor was the last Seagulls player to win the award in 1986, but the drought could end this year with midfield warrior Kaine Mercovich playing a big part in the team’s revival.

Mercovich was in the best players nine times in the first 10 games and shapes as the player to catch ahead of Terang-Mortlake’s Ryley Hutchins and Koroit’s Paddy O’Sullivan.

MURRAY

In a race with many chances, Mulwala’s Jackson Gash can’t be discounted from adding to his 2019 win and third-place finish last year in the O’Dwyer Medal count.

The Lions are well placed to take out back-to-back flags and Gash and Owen Conway, who could also poll well, have been a big part in them staying at the top.

Barooga recruit Angus Cameron, Moama’s Tom Sheldon and Congupna’s James Boyer could also poll well.

OVENS AND MURRAY

Yarrawonga’s Willie Wheeler playing against Wangaratta in the grand final replay this season. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Finally injury free, Yarrawonga’s Willie Wheeler is set to follow the lead of former Williamstown teammate Leigh Masters and win a Morris Medal with the Pigeons.

Masters won the award with 19 votes last year, but Wheeler was slow to get going due to off-season foot surgery before playing a starring role in the second half of the grand final.

Wodonga’s Angus Baker started the season in red-hot form and Wangaratta Rovers coach Sam Murray will figure prominently again.

SUNRAYSIA

Robinvale-Euston's Isaiah Johnson has starred in the first half of the season. Picture: Glenn Milne

Mildura has charged up the Sunraysia league ladder this season and playing a key part in the revival has been the highly consistent Jason Robinson.

He has played for Bacchus Marsh and Camperdown in recent seasons and has found a niche across halfback for the Demons.

Wentworth duo Andrew Wall and Jack Manson have put together solid starts to the season and dynamic small forward Isaiah Johnson has had some standout games for ladder leaders Robinvale-Euston.

WIMMERA

Southern Mallee Giants coach Kieran Delahunty soars over a Horsham Demons opponent. Picture: Georgia Hallam

The form of Frazer Driscoll in his return season to Nhill from Kyneton can’t be faulted with eight mentions in the club’s best players from the first nine rounds of the season.

But translating those starring roles into votes when playing for a team sitting low on the ladder remains the biggest question mark to figuring high on the leaderboard in the Toohey Medal.

Southern Mallee Giants coach Kieran Delahunty won a third medal last season and can’t be discounted in joining Nhill’s Wes Warrick in becoming a four-time winner and being only one behind the record of five held by Stawell’s Tony Beck.