North Gippsland Football-Netball League held its vote count recently.
The count took place at Sale Greyhound Club in the lead-up to Grand Final week. Though there was no red carpet, there was still the anticipation and a lively joy in the room as you would find at any best-and-fairest.
Churchill and Traralgon Tyers United were among the most successful clubs for individual achievements.
The senior vote count resumed at Round 10, with Churchill’s Chris ‘Squid’ Williams leading with 13 votes, TTU’s Liam Willaton in close proximity on 12 and Woodside’s Lee Stockdale on 11.
Williams was unable to win the best-and-fairest due to a suspension received in Round 13, so Willaton was the provisional leader.
Ahead of Round 16 when Williams was due to return for Churchill, he still couldn’t play because of the bye, and by that point he was surpassed on the leaderboard.
Willaton had risen to 21 votes, with Stockdale for company on 20, while Williams was stranded on 16.
Stockdale’s Wildcat teammate Ryan Foat came into contention with some late pollings, which saw him rise to third on the leaderboard with two rounds to go, on 18 votes.
Willaton picked up two votes in Round 17 against Glengarry to take him to 23 votes, all while Woodside had the bye, so Stockdale or Foat couldn’t contest.
Into the final round of the season, Willaton held a three-vote lead, needing just one vote to seal the Sel Burley Medal.
Woodside played Yarram at home and Stockdale collected two votes to go up to 22, seemingly sealing it for Willaton.
Willaton scraped through by the skin on his teeth, not picking up any final votes in TTU’s Round 18 clash against Churchill, crowning him as the 2023 North Gippsland FNL senior best-and-fairest.
“I’m pretty stoked and over the moon, there’s some fantastic players in the league, so I’m happy about that,” Willaton said upon receiving the Sel Burley Medal and trophy.
“Coaches, thank you for trusting me, I’m a smaller body, so coming up against some big bodies it takes some trust.
“Teammates, there’s a couple blokes on the table there that could’ve been up here to.”
The senior Team of the Year featured at least one player from each of the top seven teams in the 2023 season.
Top-two sides TTU and Woodside boasted 11 players between them, half of the team right there.
The full-back line consisted of TTU’s Jake Cashmore, YYN’s Campbell McInnes and Yarram’s Liam Bentley.
Across half back there was Heyfield rising star Liam Heasley, Woodside’s Thomas Mann and Anthony Young from the Jets.
The Bombers’ Kade Duncan and Michael Jacobsen where found in the centreline, along with Heyfield’s Rob McMillan.
Sale City’s only entrant Blake Safstrom was the first listed across half-forward, alongside Woodside’s Michael O’Sullivan and Mitch Bennett of the Kangaroos.
Plenty of goals were found on the full forward line in YYN’s Dean Macdonald, and league leading goalkicker with 82 goals Dan Farmer from the Wildcats. Yarram’s Josh Swift took a position in the forward pocket.
On the ball was Woodside’s Ryan Foat and Stockdale, with Willaton.
Making up the interchange was TTU’s Brad Kelleher and Fraser Brouns, with Heyfield’s Brayden Woodland and the Cougars’ Bailey Flanigan.
An achievement in itself was there for Bombers coach Jamie Aitken, who was named as the coach of the Team of the Year. Foat was named captain and Macdonald was named vice-captain.
In the A Grade netball vote count, Churchill’s star midcourter Rachael Loechel took home the gold after a stellar season.
Returning from the birth of her second child, Loechel came back fit and firing to take on the season, and that she did.
Captain of her side, the centre ended up leading her team to the Grand Final.
The Cougars took to Facebook to congratulate Loechel on an outstanding season.
“Captain of the team and mother of two – Rach knows how to get hard work done amongst the busy mum life, and we are extremely proud of her!” the post read.
By Round 10 Loechel had a handy lead on 17 votes, with Glengarry’s Tiffany Boatman on 13 – not far behind.
After some incredible performances, Loechel was seven votes in the clear by Round 14 and went on to win the 2023 A Grade best-and-fairest with 30 votes.
“To be honest it was quite a surreal feeling, to see my own name on the leaderboard alongside so many talented netballers,” Loechel said.
“You always hope to play your best each week, and for me I’ve just really wanted to do a consistent job for the team, so to be recognised and presented with such a respected award left me almost speechless.
“I feel extremely lucky to play alongside such a wonderful group of girls, and I think this award is reflection of how much I’ve enjoyed playing this year and it’s a credit to the team, the CFNC club and its supporters.”
Heyfield’s young gun defender Jayde Parsons was the runner-up on 24 votes in her first season of A Grade, while Boatman finished third with 22 votes to her name.
In the 2023 A Grade Team of the Year, shooters consisted of Boatman as a speedy goal attack and Churchill’s strong holder in Lynette Patten.
The midcourt featured Loechel, alongside Sale City’s zippy and accurate wing attcak Indigo Waugh and Rosedale’s midcourter Sarah Mayman.
The Team of the Year defenders were the tall yet agile Simone Turner from Sale City working with the Woodside match winner Caitlin Johnson.
On the interchange there was, Sale City’s lethally skilful and accurate goal attack Charlotte Ronchi, TTU’s quick midcourter Rahni Styles, Heyfield’s high-flying Jayde Parson and Lily Stephenson, with Woodside’s Elizabeth Nicol rounding out the team.
The TRFM Rising Star Award is a great opportunity for young athletes to be recognised for their achievements within the competition.
This award provides a platform for young players to showcase their skills and abilities and to be acknowledged for their hard work and dedication to their sport.
NGFNL President David Kyle believes “(The rising star) is a great initiative that we’ve started in our league.”
The 2023 Rising Stars winners were Churchill A Grader Oakleigh Riley and Team of the Year inductee Liam Heasley from Heyfield.
