Drysdale midfielder Ben Fennell and Barwon Heads’ livewire Sammy Baker have shared this season’s Bellarine Football League Les Ash Medal while Queenscliff defender Ebony Rolph took home the A Grade netball medal at Buckleys in Breakwater on Wednesday night.
Fennell and Baker couldn’t be separated on 18 votes at the end of the count with Heads’ ruckman Luke Davis runner-up on 17. Baker polled three votes against Drysdale in the final round to draw level with Fennell.
Ocean Grove goaler Zanna Woods and Geelong Amateur midcourter Georgia Duncan tied for runner-up behind Rolph, who won by seven votes.
Fennell, Woods and Duncan were all named in their respective Teams of the Year. Fennell was named captain.
Fennell also won the Coaches Player of the Year award while teammate Lachie Nellis was named the league’s Rising Star.
Woods and Newcomb star Jessica Duke tied for the netball Coaches Player of the Year and Anglesea’s Scarlotte Benney was the Rising Star.
Geelong Amateur scooped the pool in the Club Championship awards, winning the football, netball and overall categories.
Ammos’ Mitch Day won the league goalkicking and Newcomb sharpshooter Carly Sanders the netball Hot Shots award.
It was revealed that best afield in the senior football grand final would now be the recipient of the Josh Finch Medal, named after the Modewarre star, who has won four Les Ash Medals and 11 best and fairest awards for Modda.
The goalkicking award is now named after former Barwon Heads legend Steve ‘Chooka’ Piec. Piec won the Bellarine’s leading goalkicker four times across the Seagulls’ premiership years, booting 90 goals in 1972, 77 in 1973, 57 in 1974, and 68 goals in 1976.
Anglesea’s Liam Cruickshank shared the reserves footy Don Cole Medal with fellow ruckman Newcomb’s Pat McGinley, both finishing on 16 votes with Ammos Cody Diana a vote behind.
Newcomb’s Kytlee Willis won the B Grade netball award from Geelong Amateur teammates Alex Duck and Jade Merry, who finished equal runners-up.
Ocean Grove’s Sofia Dickeson won the C Grade medal from teammate Mel Homes, who is also coach of the club’s A Grade side.
The D Grade medal was won by Geelong Amateur’s Kellie Gibbons from Barwon Heads’ Ruby Howard.
In E Grade, Barwon Heads’ Zahra Walker walked away with the medal from Ocean Grove’s Ruby Hilderbrandt.
FOOTBALL TEAM OF THE YEAR
Backs: Tom Webster (Newcomb), Ben McNamara (Torquay), Gus Bourke (Ocean Grove)
Half-backs: Luke Preece (Drysdale), Caleb Whitley (Queenscliff), Morgan Fenton (Modewarre)
Centres: Charlie Ham (Torquay), Matthew Boag (Torquay), Lachie Kidd (Queenscliff)
Half-forwards: James Breust (Drysdale), Jayden McHenry (Queenscliff), Sam Lloyd (Geelong Amateur)
Forwards: Ayden Gras (Anglesea), Mitch Day (Geelong Amateur), Jack Duke (Newcomb)
Followers: Scott Greenough (Portarlington), Lachie Smith (Anglesea), Ben Fennell (Drysdale, captain)
Interchange: Damian McMahon (Barwon Heads), Jordan Keras (Anglesea), Blake Sutterby (Geelong Amateur), Luke Davis (Barwon Heads)
Co-coaches: Riley Kershaw and Sam Lloyd (Geelong Amateur)
NETBALL TEAM OF THE YEAR
Goalers: Zanna Woods (Ocean Grove), Carly Sanders (Newcomb), Ariana Luamanu (Anglesea)
Midcourters: Alex Booker (Queenscliff), Kiralee Collings (Torquay), Georgia Duncan (Geelong Amateur), Georgia Ryan (Ocean Grove)
Defenders: Georgia Berry (Ocean Grove), Keisha Guilmartin (Geelong Amateur, captain), Ebony Rolph (Queenscliff)
Coach: Kaitlyn Sheringham (Geelong Amateur)
