Denton a shoo-in for well-deserved J.J. Clune Medal

Post-count, Tom Denton said he had a “little insight” he may do well in the J.J. Clune Medal for Geraldton’s fairest and best footballer. Pre-count, soon to become dad and Towns leader Rohan Farris, dubbed the dynamic Denton “a certainty” to pocket the Clune. “Saw him three times this year, twice against us and once as a spectator. He was best on ground each time; he was the best player in the league this year,” Farris stated. Farris got the first vote at the 60th count of the J. J. (Jeremiah James) Clune medal. Denton got the most, 28. Easily. Daylight behind him. Actually, it was Rovers teammate Jaimon Alone and Railways rival Ben Saunders on 16 votes. Denton was in his first season at Rovers after starting his career with Towns and playing at Chapman Valley, where he was a member of a colts premiership side. “Followed my mates,” the humble 20-year-old, an educational assistant at Allendale Primary School, where he started his schooling, said. Hopefully, the kids will hear during the holidays what Mr Denton did during the break, because he doesn’t seem the type to spruik his achievements. Earlier, Denton had won the Geraldton Guardian Medal and the Coaches Player of the Year award. And he provided a hat-trick of J.J. Clune medallists from Rovers. Two seasons earlier, Jamie Koric was the winner and last year Alone shared the Clune with Northampton stalwart Kingsley Smith. So quick and keen on moving the attention away from himself was Denton that he gave a short, but sincere speech before Meldie O’Malley had placed the medal around his neck. Mrs O’Malley, a daughter of the man whose name adorns the medal and whose husband Ron is a Clune medallist, eventually found her target. And then it was left to her 15-year-old grandson, James Gardiner, who was the MC and described by league vice-president Heather Brett as “the future of football”, to quiz Denton. “Bigger picture is to win the flag on Sunday,” he replied. “Watched Railways the other day and they were pretty good.” He thanked his club and his coaches and the umpires. “There’s no game without you blokes,” he said. Northampton’s Kasey Hasleby was the fairest-and-best player in the reserves, while Brendon Cockman of Brigades won the award for the colts. Chapman Valley had a big night. Richie Bartlett won the Maurie Drennan Rising Star, Mitchell Thompson the East Fremantle rookie of the year, Chloe Spencer was the leading goalscorer in the women’s league, while Aaron Thomas and Brad Dick shared the honour in the league. Aaliyah Jones, of Towns, was the GNWFL fairest-and-best winner. Steve Trent, of Rovers, the first person to arrive at Greenough Oval each home game and the last to leave, was volunteer of the year. Umpires adviser Rob Bennett had work but would have been proud to hear his son, Theo, judged field umpire of the year. Morgan Ley, who also plays colts, was boundary umpire and Connor Harris goal umpire of the year.