TWO popular senior winners emerged after the Western Border Football Netball League annual best-and-fairest medal count on Monday night.
Held at the Millicent club rooms at McLaughlin Park, it was probably fitting the dynamic Saints on-baller Tom Hutchesson was crowned best for the footballers, while in netball it was East young gun Tenille Gray who claimed the honours.
For Hutchesson it was a comfortable victory in the end, after running second to West Gambier’s Steve Wenman after five rounds had been counted.
However, with 10 rounds gone Hutchesson had emerged to lead by seven over Wenman, before Casterton Sandford ruckman Will Macdonald made his move.
Hutchesson was 10 votes clear after 12 rounds, while Macdonald had come into contention after 14 rounds, with 16 votes to his name.
However, with just one round to count Hutchesson had sealed the honours, five clear of his nearest rival.
In the end he finished on 26 votes, with Macdonald runner-up on 19.
West Gambier’s Tom Holmes was third on the list after an impressive return to the league this season.
Millicent’s Hamish Nitschke was named best Under 21 in the competition.
Hutchesson’s skill was on display all season, with no game better typifying that than last week’s semi-final clash with Casterton Sandford.
In his usual style Hutchesson had the Sherrin on a string, gaining countless possessions around the ground to help the Saints slip straight through to a grand final berth.
For the netballers the competition was a bit tighter, with Gray polling 24 votes for the win to hold off classy West Gambier player Jess Bell by just one vote.
West’s Lisa McGregor was third with 21 votes.
The accolades continued for Gray, as she was also voted best Under 21 in the competition.
Gray has been an emerging talent in the East Gambier line up for several years, with this season’s performances certainly grabbing the eye of the officials each week.
Meanwhile, South Gambier forward Brayden Kain made an emotional speech after claiming the league goal kicking honours.
Kain finished the season with 51 goals, seven clear of Casterton Sandford’s Callum Currie, despite the Demons finishing on the bottom of the premiership ladder.
The senior backman of the year saw East Gambier’s Jayden Eldridge and West’s Wenman tied for the honours with 36 votes.
The champion club award went to Millicent, while the most disciplined club belonged to Casterton Sandford.
In the media awards Currie claimed the honours in The Border Watch/Sportspower Player-of-the-Year and tied for the honours with Eldridge in the MMM Footballer-of-the-Year.
Duldig was named best team man by MMM, while the Farmer Phil Scanlon Rookie-of-the-Year went to Millicent’s Sam Willis.
The Western Footballer-of-the-Year went to West’s Lawry Bradley-Brown, while the Norm and Di Facey Club-of-the-Year went to Millicent.
The Western Team-of-the-Year
Coach – Brad Wilson.
Forwards – Josh Ransom, Brayden Kain, Brad Wilson.
Half forwards – Tom Holmes, Dylan Bromley, Mark Rumbelow.
Centres – Matt Willson, Clint Gallio, Lawry Bradley-Brown.
Half backs – Dylan Ayton, Steve Wenman, Jayden Eldridge.
Backs – Sam Zeitz, Steve Duldig, Trent Nesbitt.
Rucks – Will Macdonald, Tom Hutchesson, Callum Currie.
Bench – Tom Zeitz, Sam Stafford, Fraser Marshall, Tom Sullivan.
Football best-and-fairest results
Reserves: Nathaniel Robbins (Millicent) from Sam Shepherd (North Gambier).
Under 17.5: Tom Nieuwerkerk (West Gambier) from Gabe Parsons (Casterton Sandford).
Under 15: William Thompson (North Gambier) from Mitchell Sims (South Gambier).
Under 14: Jake Walker (South Gambier) from Noah Sims (South Gambier).
Under 13: Lochlan Thiele (South Gambier) from Kalan Shanks (Millicent).
Goal kicking
Reserves: Matthew Kurzman 21 goals (North Gambier).
Under 17.5: Charlie Jarrad 33 goals (Casterton Sandford).
Under 15: Riley Flamank 34 goals (East Gambier).
Under 14: Luke Winterfield 20 goals (South Gambier).
Under 13: Benjamin Young 33 goals (South Gambier).
Netball best-and-fairest results
A Reserve: Jacinta Clark (East Gambier) from Trictia Cleary (Casterton Sandford) and Jo Wilson (Millicent).
B Grade: Paige Cameron (Casterton Sandford) from Mat Fox (North Gambier).
C Grade: Emma Thomson (East Gambier) from Sally Povey (West Gambier).
