Jessie Barnes-Hill is crowned while Russell and Beasley share O’Dwyer Medal in Murray League night of nights

By Oliver Shedden

Sep 15, 2024

Rumbalara’s Jessie Barnes-Hill won the Murray League A-grade netball best and fairest on Sunday night. Photo by Megan Fisher

Rumbalara’s Jessie Barnes-Hill stood peerless as the clear cut best-and-fairest winner during the Murray Football Netball League’s presentation night for 2024.

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The presentation night, held on Sunday, September 15, saw awards go to the highest achievers across all Murray League football and netball grades.

Barnes-Hill received 42 votes, due to her major role in Rumba’s dominance in the 2024 season, which led them to a chance at the flag in Saturday’s grand final against Moama.

Barnes-Hill is Rumba’s goal shooter and the head of a lethal attack that notched an impressive 17-1 record throughout 2024.

The runner-up in A-grade was Deniliquin Rams’ Rhiannan Maxwell, who tallied 28 votes.

Barnes-Hill and Maxwell jointly received the league’s most valuable player award.

Finley’s Jasmine Burke was honoured with the Wendy Brooks rookie of the year award. She helped her side to a 14-4 record, but unfortunately, she was knocked out to Nathalia in the first elimination final.

In the football realm, Moama’s Jack Russell and Cobram’s Samuel Beasley have jointly won the prestigious O’Dwyer Medal for the best-and-fairest senior footballers.

Moama's Jack Russell is the joint-winner of the 2024 O’Dwyer Medal. Photo by Steve Huntley

For the first time since 2017, a Magpie has received the seniors’ top honour, co-sharing it with a Tiger. The Tiger is the first to win the O’Dwyer Medal representing Cobram since 2011.

Russell and Beasley, who captain each of their sides, received 22 votes apiece, while runner-up Jack Norman held 19 votes of his own, narrowly missing out on the O’Dwyer Medal.

Beasley looked the frontrunner to take home the prize throughout the season, placing in the top three for voting 12 out of 18 times in the year, but only received the maximum votes once in round 10.

Meanwhile, despite not placing as often (nine times), captain Russell was picked as the best-on-ground four times and picked up two votes in each of the other five rounds.

Cobram captain Samuel Beasley was the co-winner of the prestigeous O’Dwyer Medal. Photo: Contributed. Photo by Contributed

Russell appeared in all 18 season games for Moama and kicked 19 goals, while Beasley also played in every season game, kicked four goals and provided a strong defensive presence for his side.

Congupna’s Kyle Mueller took home the Les Mogg Cup for the seniors’ leading goal kicker, nailing an impressive 95 maximums in the 2024 season.

Nathalia’s Kai Lundberg received the league’s rising star award in 2024, kicking 12 goals in 17 appearances and finding himself on his side’s best list 12 times.

Numurkah’s Jordan O’Dwyer received the Eagle I most valuable player award, as voted by the league’s clubs.