Mcdonald rises to be top Saint
CONNOR Mcdonald has capped off a stellar 2024 season in the red, white and black by claiming his first seniors best and fairest award for Tooleybuc-Manangatang.
Mcdonald was a popular selection and won the award ahead of midfielder Blake Grant despite missing three games, with the ruckman one of the key reasons for the Saint’ climb up the ladder to be finals contenders this season.
Mcdonald was also one of the leading contenders in The Guardian‘s LJ Hooker Player of the Year award, where he finished as runner-up with 15 votes – three votes behind Cohuna’s Joel Helman.
Jayda Plant confirmed her status as a player for the future for Tooleybuc-Manangatang’s A grade team, with young midcourter winning her first senior best and fairest for the Saints ahead of defender and runner-up Olivia Fowler.
Tooleybuc-Manangatang’s reserves football best and fairest was won by David Kennedy, with Jai Barnes finishing as runner-up, while the other netball best and fairests were Emma Templeton (A reserve), Steph Carroll (B grade) and Keisha Andrews (B reserve).
The Saints’ colts football best and fairest was won by Kal Hazlett, with Rydar Morris runner-up.
Moloney does the double
FORMER Moulamein coach Heath Moloney has taken out not one but two major honours this season for the Swans, with the ruckman winning both the senior and reserves football best and fairests.
Moloney claimed the seniors award after polling 118 votes, finishing 51 votes ahead of runner-up Ely Miller, with Cody Storm, Rodney Reeves and Andrew May rounding out the top five.
Moloney then followed up by claiming victory in the reserves best and fairest, polling 147 votes to beat Matthew Moroney by 53 votes.
The Swans’ A grade best and fairest was won by former Balranald defender Hannah Morton, who polled 38 votes to beat Meg-Jordyne Rooney (18 votes) and Zarlie Featherby (16 votes).
Maddison Houlihan won the Swans’ A reserve best and fairest after polling 30 votes, beating runner-up Breigh Vistarini by nine votes, with Margot Isailovic winning the Swans’ B reserves award by four votes from Laura Wilson.
Caleb Scandolera won Moulamein’s under 17.5 football best and fairest, while Mia Bennett won the under 17 netball best and fairest.
