Best & fairests: Brett Bewley, Shannen Lange, Tom Marriott and Harry Benson chase more medal glory
Speculation has already started about who will win country footy’s most sought after individual awards. See the leading chances in the 12 biggest leagues.
The 2024 season is shaping as the one when a string of modern-day country footy stars could write their names into the record books as three-time winners of some of the most prestigious individual awards.
Darley’s Brett Bewley, St Mary’s Harry Benson, Sale’s Shannen Lange and Leongatha’s Tom Marriott are all in contention for more hours in the Ballarat, Geelong and Gippsland leagues.
The Weekly Times showcases those in contention to be added to the honour rolls in the 12 major league in September.
BALLARAT
Darley’s Brett Bewley has polled more than 50 votes in the last two seasons on his way to back-to-back Henderson Medal victories.
Those numbers alone make it impossible to discount his chances of completing a hat-trick of medal wins given he has played every match and Darley remains in the flag mix.
East Point’s Matthew Johnston, Sebastopol’s Tony Lockyer and Redan duo Khy Jess and Lachlan George have also impressed.
Redan’s Jarrod Edwards holds the record of four successive medal victories in a run that started in 2006.
BENDIGO
Lachlan Tardrew’s permanent return to Sandhurst this season has had the impact last year’s Bendigo league runner-up would have hoped.
After playing the bulk of 2023 with Collingwood’s VFL team, the talented midfielder has been named in Sandhurst’s best players in all 10 matches, including last round’s narrow loss to Gisborne when he went head-to-head with the biggest danger to his maiden Michelsen Medal chances, Brad Bernacki, who polled 12 votes from only nine games last year.
CENTRAL MURRAY
The Jack Best Medal is as wide open as the Central Murray premiership race with one of the pre-season medal fancies, Balranald coach Jydon Neagle, sidelined with a quad injury.
Tyntynder midfielder Roy George has elevated his game to another level, averaging 27 possessions per match and regularly kicking goals.
Tooleybuc-Manangatang ruckman Connor McDonald is backing up a strong 2023, averaging 32 possessions a match.
Kerang captain Josh Nitschke could also poll strongly.
GEELONG
In the absence of a standout contender, Colac ruckman Zac Zdybel is shaping as one player who could finish high on the leaderboard.
He has previously played at VFL level with Geelong, but this season he has been a big part in Colac’s push for another finals berth.
St Mary’s Harry Benson’s chances of winning a record-equalling third Mathieson Medal are still alive and Bell Park’s strong start to the season has been helped by the form of inspirational captain and midfield general Lachie Patten, who has been a proven vote-getter in recent seasons.
GIPPSLAND
Sale’s Shannen Lange is a strong chance to elevate himself into the record books alongside John Gallus and Greg Morley as three-time winners of the Trood Award and Rodda Medal.
Lange has been Mr Consistent again for the Magpies who remain in the finals mix.
Leongatha’s Tom Marriott, who has also won two awards, was tracking well until missing the last two matches with a hamstring injury.
But Moe’s Riley Baldi could come over the top and spoil the party for Lange or Marriott and Bairnsdale’s Will Mitchell has rarely been out of the best players in his second season with the Redlegs.
GOULBURN VALLEY
In a team chock full of stars, Echuca’s Jack McHale could be the player to end the Seymour mortgage on the Morrison Medal in the post-Covid era.
Seymour stars Ben Rigoni and Jack O’Sullivan have combined to win the last three GV medals, but this season, Rigoni has been a regular with VFL team Coburg and O’Sullivan is playing for Wodonga in the O&M.
McHale is part of the powerful Echuca engine room that has driven the Murray Bombers to the past two flags and favourites to complete the hat-trick in 2024.
Shepparton Bears ruckman Ash Holland, who has returned from Waaia, and Rochester recruit Mitchell Trewhella are other medal contenders.
HAMPDEN
Injury-free at last, Port Fairy captain Matt Sully is marking his mark on the Hampden league this season.
He has been one of the team’s prime movers, averaging 25 possessions and kicking 20 goals, as the Seagulls press to play finals.
Another Maskell Medal contender is Jett Bermingham, who won the 2021 medal as a 19-year-old, and is now well entrenched as one of the league’s premier players.
South Warrnambool’s Myles McCluggage has also been one of the reigning premiers’ most consistent performers.
MURRAY
The O’Dwyer Medal winner is as hard to pick as the premier team in 2024 with multiple chances heading into the second half of the season.
Cobram’s Sam Beasley is one player who has been to the fore playing off halfback with the occasional run on the ball.
Also in the mix are Congupna excitement machine Billy Cooper, who has produced some scintillating performances, Mulwala’s consistent vote-getter Matt Gorman and Numurkah’s Jordan O’Dwyer, who has returned from a stint with O&M club Yarrawonga.
NORTH CENTRAL
Former Richmond ruckman Andrew Browne has made a big impression in his first season with Donald after playing a starring role in Tatyoon’s grand final win in the Mininera District league last year.
Ruckmen traditionally polled well in the Feeny Medal until a run of recent victories by midfielders including last year’s joint winners, Birchip-Watchem’s Nic Rippon and Sea Lake-Nandaly’s Trent Donnan.
Donnan went down early with a serious ankle injury, but Rippon has been a force again for the ladder-leading Bulls.
OVENS & MURRAY
Wangaratta’s Callum Moore has been a proven votegetter since entering the O&M with victory in his first season in 2021 and runner-up finishes the last two years.
Like Wangaratta, Moore began slowly this season, but has hit his straps as the Magpies also make their move.
Moore is the league’s leading goalkicker, but has produced some matchwinning efforts in other roles including in the ruck.
The main challenges are expected to come from Wangaratta Rovers coach Sam Murray in his return to the midfield.
Reigning GV medallist Jack O’Sullivan starred early in the season for his new club Wodonga before being struck down with injury.
SUNRAYSIA
Robinvale-Euston’s Benji Neal proved in 2023 that first-year players in the Sunraysia league can get noticed enough to win the McLeod Medal in a strong pointer to new Irymple coach Jake Thrum’s chances this year.
Thrum joined the premiers of the last two seasons from Bendigo league club Golden Square as coach and is expected to poll strongly along with another playing coach, Mildura’s Sam Kerridge.
Another Mildura player, Mitch Rogerson, has been highly consistent, featuring in the best 10 times from 11 matches.
WIMMERA
Stawell coach Tom Eckel was joint winner of the Toohey Medal last year and has to be considered one of the early favourites for the award again given his output to date.
The player he shared the award with last year, Ararat’s Jake Robinson, also hasn’t missed a beat, regularly appearing in the reigning premiers’ best players.
But the form of Ararat coach Tom Williamson can’t be overlooked either in his second season back in the competition.
Southern Mallee Thunder’s Billy Lloyd has also had a big start to 2024 as it chases an elusive flag.
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