Walsh goes back-to-back
NYAH-Nyah West United defender Joel Walsh claimed his third Pat Phelan Medal, winning the Demons’ senior best and fairest for the second year in a row on Sunday.
Walsh beat joint runners-up Brandyn Grenfell and Jordan Iudica to be crowned the Demons’ best player of the season, with Joel Campbell and Ethan Saville rounding out the top five.
It was the third time Walsh won NNW United’s highest honour, after previously winning in 2019 and 2023.
Jason Manning was declared the Demons’ reserves best and fairest, ahead of Rhys Burge, with Ethan Coe winning the club’s colts best and fairest ahead of Oscar Hickox.
NNW United’s 2022 best and fairest Matika Mitchell confirmed her status as the Demons’ best player, adding this years A Grade award to her trophy cabinet, with 2023 winner Taylen Blachford finishing runner-up.
The Demons’ other netball awards went to Shania Decker, who won the club’s A Reserve best and fairest ahead of Jess Burge, with Danielle Pretty beating out Kerri Curran to win the B Grade best and fairest and Charneah Threadgold topping Ella Barry to win the B Reserve award.
Hunter claims Blues’ top honour
SEAN Hunter has been rewarded for a consistent season in navy blue, with the Kerang utility winning his club’s senior best and fairest for the first time on Saturday evening.
Hunter claimed the award in just his fourth senior season for the Blues, having previously won the Central Murray’s Rookie of the Year award in 2022 and playing all his junior football with the club.
Hunter finished ahead of ruckman Nick Lang, who was rewarded for a dominant second season with the Blues since coming to the club from Kangaroo Flat at the start of the 2023 season.
Veteran midfielder Marty Kelly finished third, with last year’s runner-up Josh Nitschke and emerging star Tyson Clingan rounding out the top five.
Kerang coach Chloe Adams claimed her first A Grade best and fairest since her return to the club prior to the 2023 season, finishing ahead of fellow defender Keiarah Brooks.
Shannon reigns supreme for River Raiders
KOONDROOK-Barham midfielder Jack Shannon has reclaimed his throne at the River Raiders, with the enigmatic onballer winning the club’s senior best and fairest at their vote count last Sunday.
Shannon finished ahead of runner-up Billy Driscoll, who had a significant impact in his first season with the tri-colours.
It was Shannon’s second win in three seasons, having also won Koondrook-Barham’s senior best and fairest in 2022.
Marc O’Neill was crowned the Raiders’ reserves best and fairest after outpolling Danny Main, with Nick Frankling winning the club’s colts best and fairest in front of Xavier Leonard.
Tlarnee Lake was rewarded for another consistent season, with the goal attack winning Koondrook-Barham’s A Grade netball best and fairest ahead of 2023 winner Remy Doyle.
It was a strong result from Doyle, who missed the majority of the second half of the Raiders’ campaign, with the young gun leading the count at the time of her season-ending injury.
Ella Whelan won the Raiders A Reserve best and fairest ahead of Sarah Dalton, while Evie Snowdon and Alesia Atkins were declared the winners of the B Grade and B Reserve best and fairests.
