Ovens and Murray, Goulburn Valley: Leigh Masters and Ben Rigoni take home Morris and Morrison medals
Yarrawonga defender Leigh Masters has become the club’s seventh winner of the Ovens and Murray league’s Morris Medal. See all the winners.
Yarrawonga defender Leigh Masters has become the club’s seventh winner of the Ovens and Murray league’s Morris Medal since 2000 with 19 votes.
Masters, originally from Tyntynder in the Central Murray, finished two clear of last year’s winner, Wangaratta’s Callum Moore, with the pair to go head-to-head in Sunday’s grand final.
Wodonga’s Angus Baker, in his first season in the O&M, was another two votes back in third place.
Masters was recruited by Yarrawonga from VFL club Williamstown.
Yarrawonga’s seven individual medal winners is the most by any club since 2000 and includes an honour roll of some of the club’s modern day great players.
John Brunner started the run in 2000 and was followed by Tim Hargreaves two years later.
Craig Ednie and Mick Stevens were next in 2006 and 2009 and were followed by Xavier Leslie and Tyler Bonat in 2013 and 2016.
Leslie added the O&M reserves best and fairest to his collection at Wednesday night’s count and he will line up for Yarrawonga in the reserves grand final on Sunday.
He is a triple senior premiership player with the club.
Albury has had the next most winners since with Shaun Daly, Joel Mackine and Chris Hyde winning four between them.
North Albury’s Emily Browne became only the second three-time winner of the A-grade netball best and fairest, Toni Wilson Medal.
She beat a previous medal winner, Corowa-Rutherglen’s Sophue Hanrahan, by one vote.
GOULBURN VALLEY
Seymour’s Ben Rigoni has won the GV league’s Morrison Medal by one vote after the club produced last year’s winner in the Covid-shortened season, Jack O’Sullivan.
Rigoni pipped one of the pre-count favourites, Kyabram’s Kaine Herbert with another Kyabram player, Jack Keogh three votes back in third place.
Echuca’s Sam Willoughby, who will line up in the grand final against Euroa on Sunday, finished in a tie for fourth.
The A-grade netball best and fairest was won by Shepparton United Jess Barnes for a third successive year.
BENDIGO
Strathfieldsaye’s Jake Moorhead has taken out the Bendigo league’s Michelsen Medal as he eyes off a premiership medal in Saturday’s grand final against Gisborne.
He polled 19 votes to finish four clear of joint runners-up Gisborne on-baller Brad Bernacki and South Bendigo coach Nathan Horbury.
Moorhead is the second Strathfieldsaye player to win the medal after Lachlan Sharp was successful in premiership-winning season 2017.
Moorhead and Sharp will be playing alongside each other in the grand final on Saturday.
Bernacki had a brilliant start to the season to earn a call up to Essendon’s VFL team where he played 11 games.
When the Bombers’ season ended he returned to Gisborne and has been among its best players in the second semi-final loss to Strathfieldsaye and last week’s preliminary final win over Golden Square.
Horbury, the 2017 Henderson Medallist in the Ballarat league, has been reappointed coach of South Bendigo after leading the club into finals for the first time in a decade.
Gisborne champ Maddy Stewart became a dual winner of the A-grade best and fairest when she polled 29 votes to beat Kangaroo Flat’s Chelsea Sartori by three.
Stewart also won the medal in 2018 to join the likes of Maryborough’s Carol Sing, Sandhurst’s Kris Greene and Heather Oliver as two-time winners of the coveted award.
Gisborne was beaten in the preliminary final by Kangaroo Flat.
GIPPSLAND
Leongatha star Tom Marriott has created club history by becoming its first player to win two Trood Award and Rodda Medals.
Marriott and Morwell young gun Tristen Waack went into the final round locked together on 24 votes with Waack claiming one vote before being trumped by Marriott, who was judged best afield in the last round against Drouin.
Morwell beat Sale in the last round with Sale’s Jack Leslie picking up three votes to finish third on 22 votes.
Marriott won his first league best and fairest in 2018, which was also a premiership-winning season for Leongatha.
Marriott and Leslie will go head-to-head in Saturday’s grand final after Sale rolled Wonthaggi in the preliminary final.
Leongatha first-year coach Trent McMicking said Marriott was a star of the competition.
“To see someone work that hard and lead the footy club in the way he does is just unbelievable,” he said.
“He should have played a lot of VFL footy.
“Comparing him to all the other top flight players in the competition who have played VFL or AFL, he’s better than them all.”
Morwell’s Shannon Freeman won the A-grade netball best and fairest on 33 votes from Traralgon’s Amy Harrison on 26 votes.
Freeman joined Morwell this season from rival club Moe.
MURRAY
The Murray league’s O’Dwyer Medal has finished in a tie for the first time since 2008, with Nathalia’s Brodie Ross and Tongala’s Nick Jamieson locked together on 25 votes.
Jamieson was two votes clear heading into the final round and extended his lead to three with one vote before Ross joined him with three votes in Nathalia’s last round win against Rumbalara.
Mulwala’s Jackson Gash finished third on 22 votes after winning the award in 2019.
He will play in the grand final against Cobram on Saturday with Mulwala aiming for its first flag since 1990 and Cobram shooting for its first premiership since 1998.
The last tie in the O’Dwyer Medal was between Tongala’s Daryl Harrison and Tocumwal’s Lee Warnett.
The A-grade best and fairest was another success for Nathalia with defender Tegan Sutton winning on 23 votes, one ahead of Congupna’s Morgan Zotti.
HAMPDEN
Portland’s Daniel Jackson has become the club’s first player to win the Maskell Medal, a decade after joining the Hampden league.
Jackson was a runaway winner on 31 votes to be 10 clear of Cobden’s Paul Pekin.
It won its first final before finishing fourth behind this weekend’s grand finalists, Koroit and North Warrnambool, and South Warrnambool, which was beaten in the preliminary final.
“He’s been a dominant player for us this year,” Portland coach Jarrod Holt said.
“He’s a local boy, grown up through the junior footy here and looks after himself really well.
“He does all the basics really well and runs all day.”
Cobden’s Remeny McCann won the A-grade netball best and fairest with the star defender polling 31 votes to beat North Warrnambool coach Skye Billings by five votes.
BALLARAT
Former Fremantle midfielder Brett Bewley has capped off a dominant return season to Darley to win the Henderson Medal by 13 votes.
Bewley was judged best-on-ground five times in his 29 votes as he romped home from a three-way tie for second place between East Point’s Jordan Johnston, Melton’s Jack Walker and Redan’s Lachie George.
Centre player Soli Ropati created a slice of history when she became the first Melton South player to win the A-grade best and fairest.
She polled 21 votes to beat Darley pair Rebecca Hicks and Grace Markovic on 17 and 16 votes respectively.
CENTRAL MURRAY
Balranald’s Jydon Neagle has taken out the Jack Betts Medal in his first season with the club his late father Merv coached to a flag more than a decade ago.
Neagle finished on 25 votes including three votes in the final game to win by three from Kerang’s Bradlee Pay and two votes further back to Woorinen midfielder Jye Barry.
Neagle was a star in the Ovens and Murray league with Wodonga Raiders where he won three club best and fairests before heading to Balranald as co-coach.
He also played for Central District in the SANFL in 2019.
Balranald won eight games and missed finals on percentage.
Balranald’s Jess Parry and Swan Hill’s Madeleine Nalder tied for the A-grade best and fairest.
HUME
Howlong has produced the winner and runner-up of the Azzi Medal with Hamish Clark trumping Ben Baker for the honour on Monday night.
Clark polled 31 votes to beat his teammate by five with Osborne’s Connor Galvin in third place on 21 votes.
Galvin missed Osborne’s second semi-final win against Holbrook, but is expected to play in Saturday’s grand final against Holbrook, which earned another shot at the flag favourites by beating Jindera in the preliminary final.
Clark has been back at Howlong since coaching Upper league club Bullioh.
Osborne coach Sally Hunter won the A-grade netball best and fairest with the individual success coming hot on the heels of leading her team into the grand final against Jindera.
SURNAYSIA
Ouyen United’s boom recruit Kaine Stevens has romped home in the Sunraysia league’s McLeod Medal count in his first season with the club.
The West Adelaide star signing polled 22 votes on Monday night to win by seven from Wentworth defender Anthony Wall.
Stevens consistently racked up big bags of possessions for Ouyen United which was knocked out of the flag race in the preliminary final last Saturday by Irymple.
Ouyen United lost by two goals with Irymple to take on Wentworth in the grand final.
Stevens played more than 100 matches in the SANFL for West Adelaide after being recruited from Queanbeyan Tigers in the ACT.
Mildura’s Jess McNamara won the A-grade netball best and fairest by two votes from joint runners-up, Amanda Edwards from Wentworth and Catherine Brown from Ouyen United.
MININERA DISTRICT
Ararat Eagles star Jayden Wright has blitzed his rivals to win the Mininera and District’s Lewis Medal count by 10 votes.
Runner-up was Tatyoon’s Anthony Rosato with Penshurt’s Nathan Rentsch three votes back in third place.
The Eagles and Tatyoon play off in the grand final on Saturday with the Eagles going through the home and away rounds undefeated before being rolled in the second semi-final by Tatyoon.
Wright recorded a top-three finish in the Lewis Medal in the Covid-shortened 2021 season.
Penshurst’s Leah Mirtschin won the A-grade netball best and fairest from Ararat Eagles’ Taryn Kelly by six votes.
HORSHAM DISTRICT
Swifts midfielder Scott Carey has claimed his third Horsham and District league best and fairest award, the Dellar Medal.
He polled 22 votes to win by one from joint runners-up, Ben McIntyre from Edenhope-Apsley and former Brisbane Lions player, Michael Close, who has returned to his original club Harrow-Balmoral.
One vote in the final round was enough for Carey to move ahead of the two runners-up.
Swifts lost in the first week of finals with Rupanyup and Kalkee to meet in the grand final on Saturday at Horsham.
The A-grade netball best and fairest was taken out by Edenhope-Aplsey’s Emily Burgess, who won by eight votes more than Jenna Bywaters, who plays for Kalkee, and won the 2019 award.
NORTH GIPPSLAND
Yarram’s Boadie Motton polled 24 votes to win the North Gippsland league best and fairest.
He finished six clear of joint runners-up, Sam Davidson from Sale City and Yallourn Yallourn North’s Keenan Hughes.
Sale City’s Simone Turner won the A grade netball best and fairest.
UPPER MURRAY
Tumbarumba has produced joint winners of the Upper Murray league senior best and fairest award ahead of its grand final showdown against Cudgewa on Saturday.
Jimmy Waters and Jacob Read, who previously played together at Lavington, tied on 17 votes to win by three from Cudgewa’s Nick Brockley, who also topped the league’s goalkicking table this year.
Brockley booted 61 goals in the home and away rounds before adding six more in two finals matches to date.
Waters and Read form part of a potent Tumbarumba midfield as the club aims to win its first premiership since going back-to-back in 2012-13.
The A-grade netball best and fairest was also won by a Tumbarumba player, Brigid Rhynehart.
Tumbarumba plays Cudgewa in the A-grade netball grand final also.
WEST GIPPSLAND
Collingwood 2010 premiership player Brent Macaffer has taken out the West Gippsland league best and fairest after dominant season in the midfield for Tooradin-Dalmore.
Macaffer finished the court four votes clear of Kilcunda-Bass ruckman Dale Gawley with Phillip Island’s reigning back-to-back medallist Cam Pedersen a vote back in third place.
Macaffer made his debut for Collingwood on Anzac Day in 2009 and played 77 matches for the Magpies.
He played for Eltham before joining Tooradin-Dalmore which plays Phillip Island in the grand final on Saturday.
Tooradin-Dalmore lost only one game this season and won the second semi-final against Phillip Island by 37 points.
Inverloch-Kongwak goal defence Renee Pilkington won the A-grade best and fairest.
COLAC AND DISTRICT
Levi Dare has added a Colac and District league best and fairest medal to his three victories in the Hampden league’s Maskell Medal.
Dare joined Alvie after previously coaching Hamilton and Cobden in the Hampden league.
His Maskell Medal wins in 2010, 2012 and 2016 all came when he played at Cobden.
He was ranked No. 87 in The Weekly Times top 100 country footballers since 2000.
Dare’s father Dennis has also won the Colac and District league’s Jack Mahoney Medal.
Colac Imperials’ Campbell Scott was runner-up.
Alvie’s Alex Williamson was the reserves best and fairest.
The A-grade netball best and fairest finished in a tie between Apollo Bay’s Georgie Custance and Simpson’s Kelly Thompson.
MID GIPPSLAND
Fish Creek’s Tom Cameron and Boolara’s Ricky Cochrane have tied for this season’s Mid Gippsland league best and fairest.
The duo polled 19 votes and were three clear of Foster’s Brendan Neville and Newborough’s Joel Mitchell on 16 votes.
Toora’s Josh Griffin won the reserves best and fairest on 28 votes.
The A-grade netball was taken out by Kelsey Angwin from Toora with 36 votes.
WARRNAMBOOL AND DISTRICT
Merrivale midfielder Blair McCutcheon has won a thrilling count for the Warrnambool and District league best and fairest.
The four-time Koroit premiership player in the Hampden league polled 22 votes to win by one from joint runners-up, Nirranda’s EJ Harvey and Panmure’s Jacob Moloney.
Merrivale bowed out of the premiership race with a loss last weekend to Kolora-Noorat.
The reserves best and fairest was won by Nirranda’s Jonathon McLaren.
Nirranda’s Jo Couch bolted in the A-grade netball best and fairest with 42 votes with runner-up Jemmah Lynch from Old Collegians.
LODDON VALLEY
Pyramid Hill midfielder Billy Micevski has taken out the Loddon Valley league best and fairest by six votes.
Micevski finished on 23 votes after polling votes in nine games including six best on grounds.
He won from Marong pair, leading goalkicker Brandyn Grenfell and Corey Gregg.
Grenfell is the state’s leading goalkicker this season with 145 goals with Marong straight into the grand final after beating Pyramid Hill in the second semi-final.
The reserves best and fairest was won by Marong’s Zac Turnbull on 22 votes.
Maiden Gully YCW goal shooter Tia Webb won the A-grade netball best and fairest from teammate Meg Patterson.
Webb polled 28 votes, four clear of Patterson.
GEELONG
St Mary’s midfielder Harry Benson has completed back-to-back Mathieson Medal wins in a drama-filled count to decide the best player in the Geelong league this season.
Benson missed five matches due to a broken jaw, but three votes in the final round was enough for him to surge past Leopold star Marcus Thompson and North Shore ace Nick Dixon, who finished tied for second.
Benson polled 25 votes to win by two.
Colac co-coach Darcy Lang topped the count with 26 votes, but a one-match ban for striking robbed him of becoming the club’s first player to win the Mathieson Medal.
Benson began the count strongly and was six votes in front when he suffered his broken jaw in round 11.
He didn’t play again until round 18.
Leopold’s Ben Miller and South Barwon’s Ryan Bell tied on 17 votes in the reserves best and fairest count.
South Barwon goal shooter Ellen Doyle won the A-grade netball best and fairest with 22 votes to finish two clear of St Joseph’s Emma Buwalda.
NORTH CENTRAL
Donald midfield ace Ross Young has romped home in the North Central league’s Feeny Medal count.
The 38-year-old capped a dominant season with 25 votes to finish nine clear of Birchip-Watchem ruckman Lochlan Sirett on 16.
There was a two vote gap to a three-way tie for third with Birchip-Watchem’s Elliott Jaeschke, Wycheproof-Narraport’s Gedd Hommelhoff and Sea Lake Nandaly’s Wade Donnan all on 14 votes.
Young’s father Garry is also a Feeny Medal winner with his success coming in 1983.
He had a brief stint with Carlton before heading west to play for Perth in the WAFL where he won the Sandover Medal in 2009 after finishing third the previous year.
He is a three-time club best and fairest winner with Perth before returning to Victoria and playing for Richmond’s VFL team and University Blues.
Donald and Birchip-Watchem meet in the second semi-final on Saturday.
Birchip-Watchem’s Jack Ryan won the reserves best and fairest.
EAST GIPPSLAND
Stratford ruckman Lincoln Toner has polled 22 votes to win the East Gippsland league senior best and fairest.
Toner is in his second season with Stratford, which is already in the grand final following a thrilling one-point win against Wy Yung in the second semi-final after trailing by seven goals late in the first quarter.
Toner finished six votes clear of Paynesville onballer Alex McLaren with Lindenow’s Justin Gould two votes back in third place.
The reserves was taken out by Boisdale-Briagolong’s Daniel Brick.
Lakes Entrance’s Claudia Reggardo won a thrilling A-grade netball count.
She polled 16 votes to finish one clear of three players, Boisdale-Briagolong duo Elly Weatherley and Linley Bertacchini and Wy Yung’s Erica Lynch.
GEELONG AND DISTRICT
A best-on-ground display in the final round has sealed victory by East Geelong ruckman Tim McLennan in the Geelong and District league’s Whitley Medal.
McLennan polled 22 votes to finish one clear of Inverleigh’s Luke Wilson with 2018 winner, Bell Post Hill’s Matt James, third on 20 votes.
Going into the final round, five players were still in contention for the medal before McLennan claimed the medal with three votes for his performance against Corio.
Another East Geelong player, Dale Lappin, won the reserves count.
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS
Skipton co-coach Sam Willian has taken out the Central Highlands Football League senior best and fairest award with 30 votes.
He finished four clear of Hepburn ruckman Sean Tighe with another big man, Dunnstown’s Khyle Forde, another three votes back on 23.
Willian is in his second season coaching Skipton alongside Andrew Pitson with the team playing in the semi-final against Springbank on Saturday.
Daylesford’s Ben Horne won the reserves with 23 votes.
Rokewood-Corindhap’s Kate Omeara went back-to-back in the A-grade netball award.
She polled 43 votes, 16 votes more than runner-up, Learmonth’s Shianne Milera.
TALLANGATTA DISTRICT
Scott Meyer has won a fourth league best and fairest award with his latest success in the Tallangatta and District’s Barton Medal count coming after a dominant season for premiership contender Chiltern.
The mobile ruckman won three league best and fairests with his junior club Beaconsfield between 2013 and 2016.
The 36-year-old polled a record-equalling 33 votes to beat Dederang-Mt Beauty star and former Albury Tigers multiple premiership player Elliott Powell by three on Monday night.
Meyer joined Chiltern after a second stint at Ovens and Murray league club Wodonga Raiders with veteran forward Mark Doolan, leading goalkicker Ethan Boxall and mid-season signing Tom Bracher also former Raiders players now playing at Chiltern.
Chiltern finished on top of the ladder and plays the winner of Saturday’s qualifying final between Beechworth and Kiewa-Sandy Creek in the second semi-final.
Barnawartha plays Dederang-Mt Beauty in the elimination final on Sunday.
Meyer polled best-on-ground six times, but Powell went one better with seven, including a mid-season hot streak when he was voted best-on-ground in five successive matches.
Beechworth’s Campbell Fendyk finished third on 26 votes one ahead of Tallangatta’s Scott Spencer.
Yackandandah’s Rebecca O’Connell won the A-grade netball best and fairest by one vote from Tallangatta’s Hannah Dwyer and Kiewa-Sandy Creek’s Georgie Attree.
HEATHCOTE DISTRICT
Lockington-Bamawm United ruckman Tyler Phillips has blitzed his rivals to win a second successive Heathcote District league best and fairest by 15 votes.
His final tally of 34 votes included an incredible eight best-on-ground three votes.
Phillips polled votes in 14 of a possible 16 matches to finish well ahead of Heathcote’s Braden Padmore and North Bendigo’s Dylan Klemm, who were tied on 19 votes.
“It was a few more votes than I thought,” Phillips said.
“I had a pretty consistent year and winning it last year, I thought I’d be thereabouts.
“But the votes kept coming and just wouldn’t stop.”
Phillips started his career with Echuca before moving to LBU in 2018 with the club finishing on top of the ladder with only one loss during the season.
LBU plays Mt Pleasant in the second semi-final on Saturday with Mt Pleasant’s best player, Ben Weightman, finishing fourth on 17 votes.
Heathcote’s Liam Edwards won the reserves with 16 votes and the under-18s was taken out by Colbinabbin’s Jude Ryan with 22 votes.
The A grade netball best and fairest was taken out by Heathcote centre player Brooke Bolton on 29 votes, eight clear of Elmore’s Tahnee Cannan.
A reserve was won by Elmore’s Madison Keating, B grade by Huntly’s Darcee Mann and B reserve by another Huntly player Stacey Saddlier.
BELLARINE
Torquay midfield dynamo James Darke has become only the second Bellarine league player to win its best and fairest after romping home by six votes on Wednesday night.
Darke polled 27 votes to beat Geelong Amateurs’ Sam Darley and Barwon Heads’ Sammy Baker, who both finished tied on 21 votes.
Pre-count favourite, Drysdale’s Ben Fennell, was one vote further back in fourth place.
Darke’s previous Les Ash medal victories were in 2021, 2017 and 2014.
He now sits alongside Warriors’ Josh Finch as a four-time winner.
Modewarre’s Leigh Anderson won the reserves count by two votes from Torquay’s Nick Garner.
Queenscliff goal attack Kaitlin Gladman won the A grade netball best and fairest with 32 votes from Rebecca O’Neill from Ocean Grove on 27 votes.
SOUTH WEST
Cavendish midfielder Sam Gibson has capped off a superb first season with the club by taking out the South West District league best and fairest.
Gibson polled 19 votes to win by six from Dartmoor’s Lachlan Polaski with the pair rivals in last week’s qualifying final won by Cavendish.
Cavendish teammate John Coghlan was third, one vote behind Polaski.
Gibson has returned to the family farm after playing one game with suburban club Montrose last year.
He previously played with VFL team Box Hill.
Cavendish plays Coleraine in Saturday’s second semi-final with the winner advancing to the grand final.
Dartmoor’s Chloe Finnigan took out the A grade netball best and fairest award.
OMEO DISTRICT
Omeo-Benambra ruckman Jai Hayward has romped home in the Omeo and District league best and fairest award by nine votes.
Hayward polled maximum votes in five matches on his way to finishing with 24 votes and beating Buchan’s Tyson Siddle on 15.
Lindenow South’s Nathan Pollard, who has won the award three times previously, was third on 14 votes.
Swifts Creek duo Beau and Dylan Hack rounded out the top five with 13 and 10 votes respectively.
Hayward returned to his original club this year following a stint with Maffra last year to be Omeo-Benambra’s No. 1 ruckman in a season that ended with defeat in the first semi-final by seven points.
Hayward, who played every match this season, has gone one better in the award than his father, Darren, who finished runner-up once during a long career with the club.
Darren is vice-president of the ODFL.
Pollard will lead Lindenow South into the second semi-final against Swifts Creek on Saturday with the winner advancing to the grand final a fortnight later.
Lindenow South was winless in 2019 before charging up the ladder last year under Pollard.
Bruthen’s Lucy Leeming won the A-grade netball best and fairest from Buchan’s Jessica Moller.
Swifts Creek’s Joshua Jeff won the under-16s football best and fairest from Buchan’s
Billy Joiner.
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