This year’s Mathieson Medal was shared in a thrilling Geelong Football Netball League vote count last night while a star Newtown & Chilwell defender took home the inaugural netball Julia Woolley Medal.
Newtown & Chilwell midfielder Ned Harris and Bell Park star Jett Bermingham couldn’t be separated on 23 votesat the end of the count and both walked away with a ‘Matho’ around their necks. St Mary’s Patrick Dowling and St Albans midfielder Fletcher Keck tied for runner-up on 15 votes.
Bermingham has also won two Hampden League best and fairests while Harris was named captain of the team of the year, but oddly, Bermingham missed out on selection.
Harris also won the P&R Coaches Player of the Year Award while St Mary’s tall Fletcher Hughes was named Rising Star. Leopold’s Connor Giddings (68 goals) was the comp’s leading goalkicker.
Newtown & Chilwell defender Ruby Pekin-Schlicht won the A Grade netball Julia Woolley Medal with 30 votes after another fantastic season while St Mary’s goal attack Isabelle Grapsas was runner-up on 23.
Pekin-Schlicht also won the P&R Coaches Player of the Year while Lara young gun Tilly Baker was rewarded for her fine season in goal with the Rising Star prize. South Barwon’s Ellen Doyle (808 goals) was the Hotshots winner.
Unfortunately for Pekin-Schlicht, she will miss Friday’s grand final being stuck in the UK where she studies her PhD in regenerative agriculture.
AFL Barwon announced the naming of the A Grade medal after Julia Woolley, still going strong at Newtown & Chilwell and with a massive list of accolades including seven premierships (five as captain) and two league medals.
The best player on the court in the grand final will now receive the Olivia Cameron Medal. Cameron is a South Barwon star and has played more than 350 A Grade games, has featured in 10 A Grade grand finals, winning six premierships.
Leopold ruck/forward Xavier Hayter won the reserves football Allthorpe Medal with a three-way tie for runner-up. Henry Cook (St Mary’s), Francesco Posterino (Newtown & Chilwell) and Ryan Connolly (St Joseph’s) couldn’t be separated. South Barwon’s Ben Starkie (44 goals) was the leading goalkicker.
South Barwon goaler Matilda Puckett won the B Grade netball medal from dual runners-up Eliza Hannagan (Newtown & Chilwell) and Matilda Pollard (Bell Park) while St Joseph’s Payton Simeki (535 goals) was the Hotshots winner.
Leopold’s Kirsty Fagan won the C Grade award from St Mary’s Kate Fowles with teammate Kayla Biggs (568 goals) the Hotshots recipient.
In D Grade, the medal went to St Joseph’s midcourter Sophie King with Newtown & Chilwell’s Hayley Johnston runner-up. Eagles goaler Jordan Zukan (305 goals) was the Hotshots winner.
Jesse Morrissy (Newtown & Chilwell) won the E Grade award from Leopold’s Alysha Gleeson with Geelong West Giants’ Bronte Weigl (253 goals) the Hotshot.
TEAMS OF THE YEAR
FOOTBALL
Backs: Mitch Diamond (Newtown & Chilwell), Braden Hocking (Newtown & Chilwell), Luke Webb (St Joseph’s)
Half-backs: Harris Jennings (Leopold), Stephen Bensted (Bell Park), Ben Lloyd (Bell Park)
Centres: Darby Henderson (Lara), Ned Harris (captain, Newtown & Chilwell), James Gow (St Joseph’s)
Half-forwards: Patrick Dowling (St Mary’s), Fraser Fort (South Barwon), Brayden Ham (St Mary’s)
Forwards: Tom Higgins (St Albans), Connor Giddings (Leopold), Jack Sarcevic (Bell Park)
Followers: Zach Zdybel (Colac), Tate Porter (Leopold), Ben McCarthy (Colac)
Interchange: Fletcher Keck (St Albans), Hamish Bourke (St Mary’s), Keelin Betson (St Joseph’s), Ben Pennisi (Newtown & Chilwell)
Coach: Steve Johnson (Newtown & Chilwell)
NETBALL
Goalers: Ella Closter (St Joseph’s), Ellen Doyle (South Barwon), Julia Woolley (Newtown & Chilwell)
Mid-court: Vanessa Augustini (Newtown & Chilwell), Kiahna Fallon (St Joseph’s), Charlotte Morey (Bell Park), Elli Leydin (St Joseph’s)
Defenders: Ruby Pekin-Schlicht (Newtown & Chilwell), Charli Hoey (Geelong West Giants), Tori Honner (captain, St Joseph’s)
Coach: Andrew McInerney (Newtown & Chilwell)
