FOOTY SHORTS
WARDLE WINS BEST & FAIREST
Tooleybuc-Manangatang wrapped up their 2021 season last week, with defender John Wardle winning his second Seniors Best & Fairest for the Saints.
Wardle, who won his first club Best & Fairest in 2017, finished the count on 128 votes, 24 votes clear of joint Runner’s-Up Gareth Grant and Jack Spinks. Wardle also took home the Saints Best Defender award for the fourth straight season.
In the Reserves, Jonathon Chisslet edged out Keagan Grant by eight votes, 93 to 85; while Ryan Domaille capped off his fantastic season by winning the Saints Colts Best & Fairest with 245 votes, 18 clear of Runner-Up Mackinnon Rogers.
Laura Zanker was rewarded for another fantastic season, winning her third straight A Grade netball Best & Fairest, polling 64 votes, with young gun Taylen Blachford finishing as Runner-Up with 56 votes; while Leonie Kentish dominated the A Reserve vote count, winning by 44 votes.
In further good news for Tooleybuc-Manangatang, Senior Coach Damien Lock has recommitted to lead the Saints into next season, with the proud Mallee club looking to improve after a disappointing 2021 campaign.
QUIGLEY DOMINATES
AGAIN Matt Quigley capped off one of the most dominant individual seasons ever seen in the Golden Rivers Football Netball League by taking home Nullawil’s Seniors Best & Fairest recently.
After winning both the EG Hunt Medal and the League MVP in his first season at the Maroon’s, Quigley also dominated his clubs B&F with 61 votes, 22 votes clear of Runner-Up Mitch Farmer on 39.
Andrew Casey finished third on 34 votes, with Rylee Smith five votes behind on 29; while Zac Kelly and Jordan Humphreys rounded out the top five with 23 votes each.
Jeremy Vearing was declared Nully’s Reserves Best & Fairest, while Rookie of the Year nominee Pat Kelly took home the Under 17.5’s best player for 2021.
The A Grade Netball Best & Fairest was won by Meg Hogan, with a three-way tie for Runner-Up between Lauren Thompson, Gemma Fawcett and Madeline Smith; while Ella Sheahan took home Nullawil’s B Grade Best & Fairest award.
NULLAWIL’S NEW LEADER
While we’re out at Nullawil, the Maroon’s confirmed there will be a change at the top, with favorite son Brett Barker set to take the reins next season.
Barker will take over from Kyle Doran, who has coached Nully for the past three years, including their 2019 Premiership as well as leading them to an undefeated 2021.
Barker, who has played all his senior football for Nully at Centre Half Back, is no stranger to leadership, having been seniors captain and vice-captain, as well as having coached the Under 17’s in previous seasons.
Doran will stay at Nullawil in a playing capacity next season.
