We’re back with another full best-and-fairest wrap and, now, it’s the Kyabram District League’s time in the sun.
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Silly season is in session as clubs look to bolster their stocks with new blood while retaining last season’s lists, but while the ember of a bumper 2024 on the oval and court still glows, why not shine a light on the players who polled the highest this year?
And so, here is a rundown of the senior football and A-grade netball best-and-fairest winners across all 14 KDL clubs.
Avenel
Seniors: Braydon Avola
A-grade: Maddie Richards
Supreme talent Braydon Avola signed off on his time at the Swans in a way only he could, securing his fourth Avenel best-and-fairest gong before departing for Whittlesea in the Northern Football Netball League.
Avola kicked 31 goals in the 2024 season and featured in the best on 12 occasions from 16 games this season.
Meanwhile, Avenel’s top netball side finished eighth, boasting an 8-8 record with midcourt spark Maddie Richards taking out the club’s A-grade crown with 23 votes.
Dookie United
Seniors: Lachlan Ludeman
A-grade: Georgie O’Connor
Dookie United had a glut of senior football star power leave from its squad that made finals in 2023, but one young gun who stuck fat was Lachlan Ludeman.
The 2022 Jim Inch medallist injected style into the Thunder during a middling season, doing enough to claim the side’s best-and-fairest ahead of Connor Michel.
On the A-grade front, bustling centre Georgie O’Connor pipped 2023 Warren medallist Gemma O’Sullivan to the top personal prize.
Girgarre
Seniors: Byron Dryden
A-grade: Kim Hanratty
Girgarre defied the odds to claim its first A-grade premiership in club history this season, with co-coaches Holly Nelson and Abbey Butler leading the Roos to the promised land.
Though Nelson polled high among the votes, best-and-fairest honours belonged to fellow star Kim Hanratty for a stellar run in goal attack.
It was a tougher year on the track for the senior football contingent, though dominant ruck force Byron Dryden topped the podium ahead of midfield recruit Josh Marino.
Lancaster
Seniors: Zac Cerrone
A-grade: Chicquita Vick
It was a case of what could’ve been for Lancaster this season.
The Wombats were stopped shy of a three-peat in the senior football realm, succeeding power over to a tall and terrorising Murchison-Toolamba unit.
However, sniper Zac Cerrone’s 71-goal season was enough to net him the best-and-fairest prize, polling 95 votes to win handsomely from Elmore recruit Nick Kellow.
Lancaster’s A-grade netball side bowed out in the grand final, but super shooter Chicquita Vick celebrated another fine year and took home the main netball trophy on presentation night.
Longwood
Seniors: Jye Formosa
A-grade: Toni Watson
Though Longwood didn’t break into finals on either front in 2024, one Redleg stood head and shoulders above the rest.
Silky on-baller Jye Formosa was recognised in the best performers in 15 out of 16 appearances and also reserved a spot in the KDL Team of the Year.
He won Longwood’s best-and-fairest award ahead of his brother, Jordan.
Meanwhile, goaler Toni Watson clinched the A-grade award with 35 votes, seven more than runner-up Leah O’Dell.
Merrigum
Seniors: Brad Taylor
A-grade: Breanna Baker
Merrigum may have slid down a spot or two on the respective football and netball ladders from the prior tilt, but a pair of sparkling seasons were had by two individuals.
After several seasons in retirement, tough nut midfielder Brad Taylor joined the Bulldogs and won the club’s senior football best-and-fairest count by four votes.
Pre-count favourite for the A-grade netball title, Breanna Baker, won the award by 20 votes from Latia Doherty.
Murchison-Toolamba
Seniors: James Lloyd
A-grade: Kelsey McDonald
The towns of Murchison and Toolamba won’t forget what transpired over six surreal months this year.
Like a colt out of the turnstiles, the Hoppers stormed the senior football competition to complete a famous 47-point grand final win against Shepparton East.
Who ruled the roost? James Lloyd.
The rangy, rampant forward claimed Murchison-Toolamba’s best-and-fairest following a 137-goal season to beat out joint McNamara medallist James Milne.
Meanwhile, defender Kelsey McDonald ousted centre Emily Wood to take home the Hoppers’ A-grade best-and-fairest.
Nagambie
Seniors: Blake Fothergill
A-grade: Sharni Lloyd
Nagambie could say it definitely laid claim to two of the KDL’s best talents in 2024.
Blake Fothergill, like Avola, left a lasting impression at his club — and league — before moving to pastures new with a senior club best-and-fairest.
The recent Shepparton United recruit was also joint winner of the McNamara Medal.
However, there was nothing shared about Sharni Lloyd’s Warren Medal, with the ever-present force also collecting Nagambie’s A-grade best-and-fairest gong.
Rushworth
Seniors: Liam Francis
A-grade: Janelle Doolan
Rushworth was all about rebuilding this season.
After not fielding a senior football side in 2023, the Tigers rebounded to tally five victories and record a respectable 10th-placed finish.
Returning star Liam Francis beat out the pack to secure holding rights of the club’s coveted football award, while the netball honour went to Janelle Doolan.
Shepparton East
Seniors: Tom McCluskey
A-grade: Lauren James
Like Lancaster, Shepparton East’s campaign could be summarised as almost perfect.
The A-grade netball squad seemed primed to go back-to-back, but was uprooted in the preliminary final, while the senior footballers went one further, only to be ousted by Murchison-Toolamba in the decider.
Gun goalkeeper Lauren James didn’t go home empty-handed on presentation night, though, as she was named the Eagles’ best-and-fairest on the courts.
And while bulldozing ruckman Tom McCluskey was rubbed out from a share in the McNamara Medal, he wouldn’t miss out altogether after taking out East’s major football award.
Stanhope
Seniors: Jack Donnell
A-grade: Jemma Wright
It was far from seventh heaven for Stanhope this year, with both senior football and A-grade netball units missing out on finals by one agonising place.
Recruit Jack Donnell polled 58 votes to win the Lions’ best-and-fairest over defender Stuart Trevena (26), while Jemma Wright won the A-grade netball title for an outstanding season in the goaling circle.
Tallygaroopna
Seniors: Daniel Clarke
A-grade: Georgia Grace
It may not have produced senior silverware, but 2024 was a solid year by all accounts for Tallygaroopna.
Senior playing coach Daniel Clarke led the Redlegs to finals and was rewarded with a best-and-fairest crown for his troubles, while wing defender Georgia Grace took out the A-grade equivalent over bastion Bree Giles.
Undera
Seniors: Ethan Hart
A-grade: Leanna Valentin
Undera had a tough time of it stumping up for action during a rebuilding phase this season, but credit has to be given where it’s due for showing up week in, week out.
Recruit and former Kyabram thirds pocket rocket Ethan Hart snared the senior football best-and-fairest gong, while Leanna Valentin laid claim to the A-grade netball gong.
Violet Town
Seniors: Nathan Abley
A-grade: Kolby Wild
Violet Town’s 2024 campaign ran a similar course to that of the season prior, with the Towners’ A-grade netballers reaching finals, while the senior football counterpart found wins few and far between.
With the latter surely to change after a bevy of high-profile recruits were announced in the off-season, Nathan Abley will hope to add team success to individual honours after collecting the club’s best-and-fairest for 2024.
And, following another elimination finals berth, athletic defender Kolby Wild stood above the rest when it came to anointing Violet Town’s A-grade best-and-fairest.
Senior Sports Journalist