SALE ruckman Jack Lipman and Maffra defender Montana Holmes were the big winners from the Gippsland League annual presentation night.
Lipman won the senior football best-and-fairest, receving the Trood Award and Rodda Medal, while Holmes won her third Hutchison Medal for the A grade netball best-and-fairest.
Holmes finished last night’s vote count with 31 votes to finish three clear of Warragul defender Christie Hillberg, while 2015 winner Courtney Garth of Morwell polled 25.
The 23-year-old first won the award in 2013 while playing for Sale, and 2016 while at Moe.
In her first season at Maffra, Holmes polled votes in 14 games, including the maximum three votes on six occasions.
Garth was awarded the A grade most valuable player award by the coaches.
Lipman, 27, polled 20 votes in the senior count to finish two clear of Drouin on-baller Eddie Morris and three ahead of Morwell midfielder Anthony Rosato in third place.
Standing at 200 centimetres tall, Lipman cuts an imposing figure and has long been regarded as one of the league’s premier ruckmen, with his elite tap work and ability to impact the game at both ends of the ground.
A three-time league representative, Lipman polled votes in eight of his 16 games, including five best-on-ground performances.
Rosato tied with Leongatha defender Chris Verboon for the football MVP award.
Votes for the other best-and-fairest awards were counted during livestreams on the league Facebook page over the past two weeks.
Traralgon’s Jake Bishop won the reserves Hartley Medal after receiving 15 votes from the umpires during the season, one more than teammate Zac Gray. Maffra’s Jake Egan finished fifth on 10, with fellow Eagles Kal Killoran, Sean Day and Sam Robbins also in the top 10.
Thomas Bradshaw of Maffra claimed the under 18 best-and-fairest and Warragul’s Vinnie Caia the under 16s. Kasie Rump claimed back-to-back B grade Dawn Pearce Medals after receiving 35 votes, 10 clear of second place.
The D grade Karen Proctor Medal was won by another Leongatha player, Elicia Garnham, with 28 votes. Maffra’s Natasha Bedggood came second on 22, and teammate Rachael Edey ninth on 14. Morwell’s Chloe Radford and Maffra pair Jasmyn Hennig and Matilda Pendergast picked up under 17, 15 and 13 netball awards respectively.
Sale’s Jack McLaren shared the football rookie of the year award with Leongatha’s Cameron Olden, while Traralgon’s Saskia Eenjes took out the netball award.
Brad Dessent (Sale), Lachlan Wright (Leongatha), Lewis Noble (Traralgon) and Kaleb Hermansen (Drouin) took home the leading goal kicker awards for seniors, reserves, thirds and fourths respectively.
Taylin Gourley (Traralgon, A grade), Nicole Jennings (Traralgon, B grade), Patty McInnes (Moe, C grade), Jaida Delicato (Morwell, under 17s) and Ruby Dillon (Sale, under 15) collected their netball Shooting Star awards.
Traralgon scooped the club championship and most disciplined club awards.
Football:
Back: Darnell Grech (Moe), Chris Verboon (Leongatha), Jackson Hall (Traralgon).
Half-back: Kade Renooy (Maffra), Jordan Staley (Wonthaggi Power), Matt Rennie (Warragul).
Centre: Mark Collison (Traralgon), Jordan Dessent (Sale) [captain], Josh Hopkins (Leongatha).
Half-forward: Jack Johnstone (Maffra), Brad Dessent (Sale), Cade Maskell (Leongatha).
Forward: Brayden McCarrey (Bairnsdale), Chris Dunne (Leongatha), Daniel Bedggood (Maffra).
Ruck: Jack Lipman (Sale), Anthony Rosato (Morwell), Eddie Morris (Drouin).
Interchange: Bob McCallum (Drouin), Ed Carr (Maffra), Aiden Lindsay (Wonthaggi), Jacob Wood (Moe), Ash Dugan (Moe).
Coach: Dennis Knight (Morwell).
Netball:
Goal keeper: Courtney Garth (Morwell); goal defence: Christie Urie (Warragul, captain); wing defence: Montana Holmes (Maffra); centre: Stacey O’Brien (Traralgon), wing: Emma Allman (Maffra); goal attack: Daisy Hill (Morwell); goal shooter: Taylin Gourley (Traralgon); interchange: Ramayer Gourley (Traralgon), Nicola Marriott (Leongatha), Shannon Freeman (Moe), Kate French (Traralgon), Georgia Moody (Moe); coach: Caitlan Ponton (Traralgon).
Editor’s note: The story published in today’s Gippsland Times incorrectly stated Ed Morris won the senior football best-and-fairest. The information came from an embargoed media release issued by the Gippsland League. The media released was corrected five hours after publication deadline.
