Yates and Gribble top the polls

Whitley Medal winner Jack Yates.

Bell Post Hill captain Jack Yates won the Whitley Medal and Belmont Lions star Molly Gribble the Margaret Webb Medal at the Geelong & District Football Netball League vote count on Wednesday night.

Yates polled 24 votes to win from Werribee Centrals’ midfielder Michael Culliver and Anakie forward Andrew Boseley, who tied for runner-up on 20 votes.

In her first season at Belmont, wing attack Gribble polled 28 votes to win from Werribee Centrals’ defender Julia Nash on 25. Gribble won last year’s Webb Medal as a Corio player.

East Geelong’s Sam King won the reserves football Tansing Medal with 18 votes from Bannockburn’s Brayden Vicars on 15.

North Geelong’s Cody Dickson won the B Grade medal with 24 votes with Inverleigh’s Beth Long a vote behind in second place.

In C Grade, Thomson’s Megan James polled 24 votes to win from Winchelsea’s Emma MacLean on 21.

Inverleigh’s Jacinta O’Mealley won the D Grade award with 23 votes from teammate Lucille Finley-McDonald on 20.

There was a tie in E Grade with Mikayla Treacy (Winchelsea) and Zoe Bell (Inverleigh) unable to be separated on 20 votes. East Geelong’s Claire O’Reilly (16 votes) was runner-up.

In the 19 & Under, Alex Smilovic won with 25 votes from Werribee Centrals’ Evie Christopher four votes behind.

FOOTBALL TEAM OF THE YEAR

Backs: Braeden Eddy (Belmont Lions), Ben O’Brien (North Geelong), Jack Beardsell (East Geelong)

Half-backs: Caleb Bacely (Bell Post Hill), Jacson Collins (Geelong West), Toby Bennett (Corio)

Centres: Michael Culliver (Werribee Centrals), John McIntyre (East Geelong), Connor Jervies (Bannockburn)

Half-forwards: Tom Schwenessen (North Geelong), Jordan Camm (Thomson),

Dalton Grundell (Inverleigh)

Forwards: Zac Smith (East Geelong), Andrew Boseley (Anakie), Carmelo Saliba (Werribee Centrals)

Followers: Patrick Daley (Werribee Centrals), Dylan Witney (Bell Post Hill), Luke Dahlhaus (captain, Anakie)

Interchange: Billie Smedts (Thomson), Ben Evans (Belmont Lions), Jack Yates (Bell Post Hill), Oscar Barter (Anakie)

Coach: Peter Riccardi (North Geelong)

NETBALL TEAM OF THE YEAR

Stephanie Boyce (goal keeper, East Geelong), Puonyuom Mathiang (goal defence, Thomson), Claudia Cook (wing defence, East Geelong), Meg Royal (centre, Winchelsea), Molly Gribble (wing attack, Belmont Lions), Emma Witham (goal attack, captain, Thomson), Angelique Ross (goal shooter, Belmont Lions), Zoe Donne (reserve defence, interchange, Corio), Amelia Jarvis (resserve midcourt, Thomson), Bree Caldwell (reserve goaler, Thomson), Shannyn Leach (coach, Thomson).