GNFL clubs wrap up their seasons as awards nights recognise their fairest and best

GNFL clubs have kicked off the award season to recognise the fairest and best among them and reward the outstanding feats of their players. The Rovers Football Club were the first to hold their awards in a boisterous celebration of premiership triumph. While Chris Scott was the JJ Clune medallist and best on ground in the grand final he would have had to settle for runner-up in the club champion race as Gabriel Parfitt took out the top gong. It’s not unprecedented with over a third of JJ Clune winners not taking out their club’s best and fairest in their respective years and Parfitt had more best player nominations than anyone in the GNFL this season with 13. While the women’s team struggled, Abby Green dominated the women’s count to take out the top gong after claiming 10 best player nominations in 11 games while Jy Thurston was rewarded for a breakout year with the best first-year player award. Josh Simpson finished as the club leading goalkicker with 22. Out at Chapman Valley, there was no surprise when Gerard “Ringo” McKenna won the Digger Cooper Medal after being the only Royal inside the top 30 for best player votes in the league. The women’s count would have been a much tougher pick with one of the best squads ever assembled for the women’s competition, but Tayah Plamer — joint winner of the GNFL award — also took home the Ros Hoult Medal as she was also the leading goal kicker with 35 including four in their grand final triumph over the Rams. Jay O’Brien was the men’s leading goal kicker with 15 as Harrison Lane was awarded rising star with Grace Royce taking out the women’s rising star. At the Brigades Football Club, Kim Schofield was the club’s fairest and best after finishing runner-up in the JJ Clune count and taking home the most best player nominations across the season ahead of Klay Sipila. Country women’s team captain Jessica Giudice-Nairn received the women’s award despite only playing nine games, such was her dominance when she was on the field ahead of Sam Tenardi. Dale Williamson was the club and league’s leading goal kicker with 54.