Helman tops Kangas count
STAR onballer Joel Helman has been rewarded for yet another consistent season with Cohuna, winning the seniors best and fairest on Sunday.
It was Helman’s second Kangas’ best and fairest, after also winning in the Covid-affected 2021 season, and follows his runners-up finish to Swan Hill’s Matthew Wade in last Monday’s Jack Betts Medal count.
Daniel Paterson was runners-up to Helman, on top of being named the Kangas’ most consistent performer.
Jude Palmer took home the club’s reserves best and fairest, ahead of Brady Walerys, in a season where the Kangas finished ninth.
Kobie McIvor took home the Kangas’ A grade netball best and fairest, with Annie Toma finished closely behind as runner-up, while Skye Perry won the A reserves award ahead of Sammi Moon.
The B grade best and fairest was won by Aimee Coates, with Lucy Holdstock runner-up, while the B reserves best and fairest was won by Millie Trigg, ahead of Alyce Mathers.
Blake claims Blues best
CONSISTENT midfielder Dustin Blake took out the inaugural Brendan Hope Trophy as Murrabit’s best and fairest player for 2023 at the club’s presentation at the weekend.
Blake, who was named among Murrabit’s better players in every game bar three, pipped Tobie Cameron, who finished as runner-up in his first season since crossing over from Quambatook.
Veteran Blue Simon Morton capped off a remarkable season in which he played his 500th game of senior football, by adding Murrabit’s reserves best and fairest to his league best and fairest this season, with Nathan Henry close behind as runner-up.
Sam Copland won the Blues under 17.5 best and fairest, with Riley Carse close behind.
Montana Keating added Murrabit’s A grade best and fairest to her premiership medal, with Lauren Morrow claiming the runner-up award.
In the other grades, Erica Cummins took home the B grade best and fairest ahead of Jess Bray and Georgia Andrew-Mills beat Taylah Collier to win the B reserve best and fairest.
Harrop leaves Demons den
MURRABIT have finalised their senior coaching staff for next season, with Nyah-Nyah West United swingman Dean Harrop to join the club as assistant coach in 2023.
Harrop will partner with former Mallee Eagle Jack Shannahan as coach and Jacob Wade as senior assistant coach, with the trio hoping to lead the Blues off the bottom of the Golden Rivers ladder after just two wins in 2023.
The good news continues for Murrabit, with Woorinen’s Austin McKerrow also signing with the club, along with Tobie Cameron, Michael Grant, Ryan Manning, Ben Gillingham, Nathan O’Toole and Blake Watts, with the club announcing their re-signings for next season.
It will be Harrop’s first foray into senior coaching, and comes on the back of NNW United’s preliminary final finish.
Farrell flies high for Swans
AMOS Farrell was a runaway winner of Moulamein’s seniors best and fairest last week, claiming his first win in the Mitchell Bennett Memorial Trophy.
Farrell polled 105 votes in a very consistent season, to beat home senior coach Heath Moloney.
The other big winner on the night was Matika Mitchell, who took home the Swans A grade netball best and fairest after polling a remarkable 32 votes – 18 more than runner-up Stevie Bibby.
Mitchell missed the first third of the Golden Rivers season, after starting the year with Nyah-Nyah West United, while Bibby also missed the second half of 2023.
Matthew Moroney was a comfortable winner of the reserves best and fairest, beating runner-up James Moronay by 100 votes, while it was a much closer affair in the under 17.5’s football, with Caleb Scandolera polling 90 votes to edge out runner up Lachie Martin on 88.
Madison Houlihan won the B grade best and fairest, while Margot Isailovic took home the B reserve netball best and fairest.
