Tom Williamson, Lachlan Tardrew, Sam Murray, Tye Hourigan: Club best & fairest counts confirm stars of 2024
The inside word from clubs on how the top 50 country footballers in 2024 have performed has been delivered. See the hits and misses.
The Weekly Times’ Top 50 country footballers in 2024 are having their seasons rated by those who know them best.
Club best & fairest awards are being counted all around the state and in many cases have have underlined the outstanding seasons many have had.
But as always there are a few surprises.
1 Tom Williamson, Ararat, Wimmera
Only player from last year’s Top 10 to make the cut in 2024.
Thrived on added responsibility of co-coaching for the first time as Ararat claimed back-to-back flags.
A worthy winner of the Toohey Medal after suspension denied him the honour last year.
Williamson also topped the league’s goal kicking table and most recently claimed Ararat’s best & fairest.
2 Lachlan Tardrew, Sandhurst, Bendigo
Played every match for Sandhurst and was named in the Dragons’ best in every one of them.
Averaged close to 40 possessions a match to reap the rewards of a work ethic envied across the league.
Capped off an incredible season with best-on-ground performance in premiership win over Gisborne.
Also romped home in the club’s best & fairest from premiership teammate Cobi Maxted, who was in Sandhurst’s best players in all three finals matches.
Tardrew will also co-coach Sandhurst next season alongside Bryce Curnow after this year’s co-coach Ash Connick accepted the coaching job at Birchip-Watchem in 2025.
3 Jett Bermingham, North Warrnambool, Hampden
Became a dual Maskell Medal winner in a team that was first into the grand final, but went down in a thriller to South Warrnambool.
Claimed the Eagles’ best & fairest from Jackson Grundy.
4 Willie Wheeler, Yarrawonga, Ovens & Murray
Key cog in the competition’s best midfield brigade.
Former Williamstown star and ball magnet won the Morris Medal from a star-studded chasing pack.
Finished third in the Pigeons’ best & fairest behind brother Harry, who didn’t make the Top 50, and first-year player Perry Lewis-Smith, who was ranked 14.
5 Riley Baldi, Moe, Gippsland
Hardworking midfielder who began strongly and maintained a high output right to the end. Won the Trood Award and Rodda Medal after returning full-time to Moe after seven games in the VFL last year.
Also completed back-to-back wins in Moe’s best & fairest after brother Trent won the award in 2022.
6 Jarrod Brander, Wentworth, Sunraysia
Former AFL player back in his home patch for a second season and dominated up forward in a team that lost the grand final by three points to Imperials.
Kicked 92 goals in 2024 including 24 in four finals, but surprisingly, finished fourth to key defender Andy Wall in the club’s best & fairest.
Brander has committed to playing again for Wentworth in 2025 after a flood of offers from throughout country Victoria and interstate.
7 Tom Marriott, Leongatha, Gippsland
Leongatha legend who went within one vote of becoming a three-time winner of the Trood Award and Rodda Medal in a season when he also played his 200th match for the Parrots.
Leongatha was beaten in the grand final by Traralgon, but Marriott has since won the club’s best & fairest award when he tied with Jenson Garnham.
Marriott has also become a life member of Leongatha.
8 Brad Bernacki, Gisborne, Bendigo
Midfield star credited with 53 touches in one match as he returned to Gisborne on a permanent basis.
Broke through for a richly deserved Michelsen Medal after two runner-up finishes, but finished behind temmates Braidon Blake and Flynn Lakey in the club’s best & fairest.
9 Ash Holland, Shepparton Bears, Goulburn Valley
Comfortably made the transition back into GV ranks after three seasons in the Picola District league to be massive part of Shepparton’s charge to a grand final.
Although the Bears were soundly beaten in the grand final, Holland completed the Morrison Medal and club best & fairest double.
10 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas, Central Murray
Midfield maestro of the Central Murray, who won a second Jack Betts Medal in a team that recovered from a slow start to make finals.
Also took out the Kangas’ best & fairest from first-year coach and former Bendigo league champion, Jack Geary.
11 Jack McHale, Echuca, Goulburn Valley
Won Echuca’s best & fairest from veteran ruckman Kane Morris in a season when the Murray Bombers won a third successive flag in the GV for the first time.
12 Sam Murray, Wangaratta Rovers, Ovens & Murray
Coached Wang Rovers to their first flag in 30 years with upset win against red-hot favourites Yarrawonga.
Was pipped for best-on-ground, the Did Simpson Medal, by ruckman Ed Dayman, but was a runaway winner in the Rovers’ best & fairest.
13 Braidon Blake, Gisborne, Bendigo
Figured in a three-way tie for the Michelsen Medal with teammate, Brad Bernacki and Sandhurst’s Lachlan Tardrew.
Also won the Bulldogs’ best & fairest in a season when they narrowly lost the grand final.
14 Perry Lewis-Smith, Yarrawonga, Ovens & Murray
Finished runner-up to fellow on baller Harry Wheeler in Yarrawonga’s club champion award following a shock defeat in the grand final to Wangaratta Rovers.
15 Connor McDonald, Tooleybuc-Manangatang, Central Murray
Despite missing six matches, McDonald finished in a three-way tie for the Jack Betts Medal and also won the club’s best & fairest.
Also picked as ruckman in the league’s team-of-the-year.
16 Matt Johnston, East Point, Ballarat
First-time winner of the Henderson Medal who backed up winning the club’s best & fairest.
17 Flynn Lakey, Gisborne, Bendigo
Led the Michelsen Medal count heading into the final round before being overtaken by teammates Brad Bernacki and Braidon Blake and Sandhurst’s Lachlan Tardrew.
Finished runner-up to Blake in Gisborne’s best & fairest.
18 Ben Cunnington, Warrnambool, Hampden
Former North Melbourne star topped the Hampden league goalkicking award with 76 goals including nine goals in two finals matches.
Finished runner-up to star halfback Taylem Wason in club’s best & fairest.
19 Fergus Greene, Sandhurst, Bendigo
Ron Best Medal winner in the Bendigo league with 80 goals in the home and away season.
20 Liam Hoy, Koroit, Hampden
Joint winner of the Maskell Medal who also won Koroit’s best & fairest.
21 Sam Beasley, Cobram, Murray
Joint winner of O’Dwyer Medal who also won Cobram’s best & fairest.
22 Zach Zdybel, Colac, Geelong
One of the dominant ruckmen in one of the state’s strongest leagues.
Won the club’s best & fairest and shapes as an important cog in the team to be coached by former St Kilda player Seb Ross next year.
23 Bryce Hards, Imperials, Sunraysia
Incredible season that included playing in the club’s unforgettable flag triumph and winning the McLeod Medal.
Has re-signed to do it all again in 2025.
24 Mitch Trewhella, Rochester, Goulburn Valley
Recruited to Rochester this season from Bendigo league club Kangaroo Flat and won the Tigers’ best & fairest.
Also, finished runner-up to Shepparton’s Ash Holland in the Morrison Medal by one vote after leading the count with six rounds to play.
25 Tim Broomhead, North Albury, Ovens & Murray
Capped off a brilliant second season as coach by winning the Hoppers’ best & fairest as the club soared up the ladder and into a preliminary final where they were beaten by eventual premier, Wangaratta Rovers.
26 Kyle Mueller, Congupna, Murray
The former Kyabram star brought up his 100th goal for the season in the one-point grand final win against Finley.
27 Josh Nitschke, Kerang, Central Murray
Highly regarded member of the Kerang line-up that was ambushed by Nyah-Nyah West United in the grand final.
The star midfielder will follow his coach of recent seasons, Troy Coates, to Bendigo league club, South Bendigo.
28 Brodie Filo, Wangaratta Rovers, Ovens & Murray
Has been an elite performer in the O&M in recent seasons and played an important part in the club’s surprise grand final win against Yarrawonga.
29 Jake Thrum, Irymple, Sunraysia
First-year coach of Irymple who made a huge impression in the Sunraysia league.
Won the club’s best and fairest after making the move from Golden Square in the Bendigo league.
30 Shannon Beks, South Warrnambool, Hampden
Claimed the best-on-ground Ron Hoy Medal in South’s thrilling grand final win against North Warrnambool to complete back-to-back premiership wins over the Eagles.
Also won South’s best & fairest from Archie Stevens, who also played with Carlton’s VFL team this year.
Stevens won the AFL Country Medal for best player in the grand final.
31 Brett Bewley, Darley, Ballarat
Best & fairest winner at Darley once again to remain one of the Ballarat league’s best players.
32 Jake McQueen, Nhill, Wimmera
Massive first-year as coach of his original club that played finals for the first time in 14 years.
Led from the front in taking out the club’s best & fairest and will be joined as co-coach next season by the highly regarded Trevor Ryan, who coached Birchip-Watchem in the North Central league this year.
33 Kane Morris, Echuca, Goulburn Valley
One of the truly dominant ruckmen of the GV who finished runner-up in Echuca’s best & fairest.
34 Liam Betson, St Josephs, Geelong
Star key defender of the Geelong league who finished runner-up to James Gow in the club’s best & fairest.
35 Jack Russell, Moama, Murray
Joint winner of the O’Dwyer Medal with Cobram’s Sam Beasley and finished runner-up to Tom Holman in the club’s best & fairest.
36 Harry Allen, Mallee Eagles, Central Murray
Part of a three-way tie for the Jack Betts Medal and finished runner-up to Darcy McGregor in the club’s best & fairest count.
37 Tom Eckel, Stawell, Wimmera
Won Stawell’s best & fairest and will hand over the coaching reins to James Sullivan in 2025.
38 Tye Hourigan, Traralgon, Gippsland
Played a huge role in Traralgon’s upset win against Leongatha in the grand final with the 23-year-old winning a fourth club best & fairest.
Without doubt one of the best key defenders in country footy who could be an AFL draft bolter next month.
39 Billy Lloyd, Southern Mallee Thunder, Wimmera
The Thunder’s Mr Consistent who finished third behind Liam Nelson and Coleman Schache in the club’s best & fairest.
Lloyd was also the Thunder’s best player in the grand final loss to Ararat.
40 Wade Donnan, Sea Lake-Nandaly, North Central
Premiership player, Feeny Medal winner and club best & fairest winner by 17 votes all in the one season.
41 Matt Sully, Port Fairy, Hampden
One of the premier on-ballers in the Hampden league, who won the club’s best & fairest.
42 Jai Thompson, Harrow-Balmoral, Horsham District
Dream season for the former Geelong league star.
Premiership coach, league medal winner and club best & fairest winner from his coaching predecessor, Nick Pekin.
43 Josh Rentsch, Penshurst, Mininera District
Unforgettable season for the home grown star who returned from SANFL club Sturt.
Topped the league goalkicking award with 89 goals before finals, won the league medal and played in a flag in the club’s 150th year.
Next season he will co-coach Penshurst.
44 Julian Hayes, North Albury, Ovens & Murray
Top defender in one of the state’s strongest leagues and big part in the club’s surge up the ladder.
45 Billy Cooper, Congupna, Murray
Excitement machine who crossed to the Murray league premiers from stints with Richmond’s VFL team and Tatura in the GV.
46 Nic Rippon, Birchip-Watchem, North Central
Feeny Medal winner from last year who followed up with another outstanding season for the eventual runner-up.
Took out the club’s best & fairest for the second season in a row.
47 Shannen Lange, Sale, Gippsland
One of the undisputed stars of the Gippsland league who has won a third Sale best & fairest award ahead of Hudson Holmes.
48 Matt Boag, Torquay, Bellarine
In his return season to Torquay, Boag played a starring role in the club’s premiership win, took out the league medal and won the club’s best & fairest from Baxter Mensch.
49 James Lloyd, Murchison-Toolamba, Kyabram District
Kicked the most goals by any player in country footy this season with 130 goals for the eventual premiers.
50 Ethan Curran, Nyah Nyah West United, Central Murray
Stamped himself as one of the league’s brightest prospects with a huge finals series for the eventual premiers.
Kicked six goals in the preliminary final win against Mallee Eagles before turning it on again in the stunning grand final win against Kerang.
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