With the second last weekend in September usually reserved for Grand Final Day, The Guardian football team thought what better way to celebrate the 2021 Central Murray Football Netball League season than to put together our very own Team of the Year.
The only selection criteria was that players had to have played at least eight games to make the cut, meaning three quarters of the season. With such a reduced number of games as it was, we felt that would be the best way to enable a decent sample size and produce as fairer team as possible.
That meant a number of quality and well deserving players potentially missed out, including Kerang’s Sam Heavyside and the Mallee Eagles Zak Saad. Both players are unlucky to have not made the cut, but having missed a number of games, we found it extremely hard to leave someone else out to bring either player in.
Heavyside and Saad weren’t on their own when it came down to players unlucky to not be selected. Matthew Filo was probably the unluckiest, with the Lake Boga onballer’s start to the season having him a near certainty after the first handful of games. Unfortunately, injury hit mid-season and that reduced his output enough to see him just miss out on a place in the team.
Jackson Williams was another midfielder who could have easily found a spot in the side; and in the end it came down to either Williams or his Kangas teammate Jack Donat on the wing. Donat just won that call. Darcy McGregor of the Mallee Eagles was another who was very close to earning selection, as was NNW United’s Zac Threadgold and Cohuna’s Tyson Findlay.
In defence, it was another tough call, with the Mallee Eagles new coach Brent Sheahan and Tyntynder’s Elliott Broad the unlucky ones to miss out. At the other end of the ground, the Cohuna Kangas full-forward Dylan Johnstone can consider himself extremely unfortunate to not make the 22, despite kicking 35 goals for the season. In the end, two things counted against him; team balance, with four tall forwards probably one too many, as well as his slow start to the season (four goals from the first three games.)
The Demons Brent Arho was another who missed out due to his slow start to 2021. Despite kicking 30+ goals for the season, Arho struggled early on with just one solitary goal from his first three games, which in the end counted heavily against him; while Balranald’s Ben Fuller, who registered 32 goals for the season, like Johnstone, was edged out on team balance.
Please bear in mind this is only two people’s opinion; and as much as we try, we cannot get to every game that’s played.
While this Team of the Year is not an officially recognized or awarded team, we have endeavored to produce, in our opinion, a compilation of the best 22 players to have run onto the field across the eleven rounds of the Central Murray Football Netball League season.
The only thing we ask, before we are panned, ridiculed and publicly shamed by the general public, is to remember, in order for you to bring someone into the team, you must first take somebody out!
BACKS
Ayden Tessari (Mallee Eagles) – One of the recruits of the season, Tessari quickly found his groove with his new club becoming a key member of the Eagles back six.
Michael Dalrymple (Kerang) – One of the most underrated players in the competition, Dalrymple rarely had his colors lowered. Can play a variety of roles in defence as well as playing on either tall or small forwards.
Tom Holdstock (Swan Hill) – Had without doubt his most consistent season for the Swans. Started the season in sensational form, with his ability to run and carry the ball out of his defensive fifty a highlight.
HALF BACKS
Jesse Clark (Kerang) – The Kerang co-coach took his game to another level in 2021 and was unstoppable at times. Cut opposition teams to shreds with his sublime foot skills and is my tip to take home the Jack Betts Medal this season.
Cayden Crowe (Tyntynder) – May surprise some, but Crowe enjoyed a sensational breakout season playing one of the hardest positions on the ground. Was named amongst his teams’ better players on six occasions, including two best on ground performances; a phenomenal effort for a key defender.
Oscar Lewis (Swan Hill) – Young gun who has a very bright future with Swan Hill after finding his niche across half back. Was named in the Swans better players in eight out of ten games this season and earned the club’s Rookie of the Year nomination.
CENTRES
Marcus Wattie (Tyntynder) – Started 2021 in fantastic form before a broken thumb ended his season prematurely. Almost single handedly held the Doggie’s midfield together, with not only his ball winning ability but his capacity to do the incredible.
Joel Helman (Cohuna Kangas) – The former Jack Betts Medallist returned to the Kangas this season and reminded everyone how good he is. Tore opposition midfields to pieces with his explosive running and attack on the footy.
Jack Donat (Cohuna Kangas) – Returned to Cohuna having spent 2019 at North Bendigo; and came back as one of his teams most dominant players. While he may be underrated by those outside the Kangas, he isn’t by his coaches, who named him among their better players in seven out of ten games.
HALF FORWARDS
Tom Toma (Cohuna Kangas) – Impossible to leave out of a Team of the Year; and although he may have been just edged out of a midfield berth, there was no way he wasn’t going to be part of the starting line-up. Still Cohuna’s best player on his day.
Rhys Free (Cohuna Kangas) – Another returning Kanga this season, Free finished second in the League Goalkicking with 40 goals. Formed an almost unstoppable partnership with Dylan Johnstone and was the key member of the most dangerous forward line in the competition.
Drew Lloyd (Balranald) – Young gun with a very bright future who may surprise some people to be named in the team of the year. Kicked 28 goals as a high leaping key forward, but almost as importantly, was named in the Roo’s best three players in three of their four wins for the season.
FORWARDS
Doug Palmer (Woorinen) – Returned to Tigerland in 2021 and quickly hit his straps with 35 goals for the season. His 11-goal performance against Koondrook-Barham was one of the best individual performances by any player for the year.
Bryce Curnow (Kerang) – Strong overhead, dangerous with the ball on the ground and a deadly accurate shot at goal, Curnow has every trick in the kit bag. Would have loved to see what this guy could do during the finals having finished as the competitions leading goal scorer with 45 majors.
Tyler Jones (Cohuna Kangas) – Jones takes the role of small forward, even though he isn’t the stereotypical crumbing forward. Can do the magical and knows exactly where the goals are, splitting them on 23 occasions this season.
RUCKS
Arnold Kirby (Woorinen) – In one of the hardest decisions every year, Kirby gets the nod as starting ruckman in 2021. Had an incredible start to the season, being named in the Tigers best players for the first five games, including best on in three of those.
Jye Barry (Woorinen) – The LJ Hooker Player of the Year for The Guardian this season, Barry took his game to another level. Quickly became one of the competitions most damaging midfielders who was never afraid to take the game on.
Brad Pay (Kerang) – Became a more permanent midfielder this season and his game went to another level (if that’s possible) as a result. Is a key reason why the Blues are widely regarded as having the best midfield in the league.
INTERCHANGE
Jake Dick-O’Flaherty (Koondrook-Barham) – While the Raiders may not have enjoyed the best of seasons from a win-loss perspective, it had nothing to do with this young gun’s performances. Won Koondrook-Barham’s Best and Fairest and quickly developed himself into one of the competitions most damaging midfielders.
Jacob Wade (Mallee Eagles) – As honest and reliable a footballer as you will ever find. Is able to not only do a job in shutting down an opposition key forward, but also damage them going back the other way with his run and carry out of defence.
Toby Thoolen (Swan Hill) – Made a strong charge late in the season to be named as the Central Murray’s premier ruckman for 2021, but fell just short of Kirby. Still had an incredible season both in the ruck and up forward for the Swans.
Ryan Gillingham (Kerang) – Another member of perhaps the best and deepest midfield in the league, Gillingham just continues to show perform at a consistently high level for Kerang. Can turn a game off his own boot, as he did on countless occasions this season.
COACH
Neil Bradley (Cohuna Kangas) – It stands to reason that the team that finishes on top of the ladder probably deserves for their coach to be ranked number one, but there can be no disputing that Bradley deserves top billing regardless of that fact. Took his team from eighth spot in 2019 to the top, with the Kangas brand of football breathtaking to watch. Would have loved to see what his team would have produced during a hard-fought final’s series.
