EDFNL Senior Presentations
Winners of the Senior Grades League best & fairest’s were awarded on Monday night at the Warragul Downtowner. After 20 weeks of football, Neerim South Kody Wilson and Ellinbank’s Bryce Joyce couldn’t be split - finishing in a tie for the Alf Walton Medal on 34 votes. Buln Buln’s Patrick Ireland and League leading goal kicker was next on 25 votes. Kody also left with the Cellarbrations Most Valuable Player Medal as voted by the Coaches. Longwarry’s Cooper Brown took home his second Arthur Pollard Award as the highest junior vote getter in Seniors.
Nilma Darnum’s Stacey Lawry and Neerim South’s Christie Urie dominated the A Grade vote count like they both dominate the defensive end. Lawry went back to back Best & Fairest with Urie again the Runner Up.
The biggest applause of the evening was saved for the presentation of a Life Membership to local football legend Paul Alger. It’s been calculated that ‘Algs’ has been involved in over 850 matches as a player and coach; he finished his playing career on 499 games! Coaching since 1989, he has had stints at Catani, Buln Buln, Yarragon and is the current coach of Nilma Darnum. With multiple premierships and playing accolades to his name he can now add EDFNL Life Member to the resume.
With three football teams in Grand Finals on Saturday it was little surprise that Ellinbank took home the Robin Hood Inn Club Championships in football. Buln Buln claimed the Netball Club Championships showing their strength across the grades.
Poowong Football Netball Club were awarded the Warragul Downtowner Community Club of the Year Award in recognition of the funds they raised for Lifeline by participating in The Push-up Challenge which aims to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention.
This year it required participants to complete 3,249 (the number of suicide deaths in 2023) push-ups over 24 days in June. The 61 participating club members completed 97,104 push-ups in this time raising over $3,000 for Lifeline through the generosity of their families, friends and work colleagues.
Poowong have also been big drivers of the TAC campaign and huge promoters of Poowong Community organizations and events.
Buln Buln received the Senior Most Disciplined Club Award to go with the Junior shield they collected on Sunday. The calling team - Dyl and Goody from SEN announced the Team of the Year (view it here) like an All Australian there’s always some unlucky players to have not hit the team sheet.
Thank you to all who attended, and to all the sponsors of the award throughout the evening.
Full list of award recipients below:
SENIORS
Alf Walton Medal: Kody Wilson, Neerim South & Bryce Joyce, Ellinbank
Arthur Pollar Award: Cooper Brown, Longwarry
Hip Pocket Leading Goal kicker: Patrick Ireland, Buln Buln
Cellarbrations Most Valuable Player: Kody Wilson, Neerim South
RESERVES
Gerald Heenan Medal: Angus Young, Longwarry
Leading Goal Kicker: Tody Bayne, Neerim South
A GRADE
Best & Fairest, sponsored by The Gazette: Stacey Lawry, Nilma Darnum
Runner Up, sponsored by Brenda Whitehead: Christie Urie, Neerim South
Goal Throwing Award: Nilma Darnum
B GRADE
Best & Fairest, sponsored by Brenda Whitehead: Jessica Fowler, Buln Buln
Runner Up, sponsored by Brenda Whitehead: Ondine Olsson, Nilma Darnum
Goal Throwing Award: Ellinbank
C GRADE
Best & Fairest: Chloe Wallace, Ellinbank
Runner Up: Letetia Herbert, Lang Lang & Emily Robb, Neerim South
Goal Throwing Award: Neerim South
Robin Hood Inn Club Championship: Ellinbank Football Club
Netball Club Championship: Buln Buln Netball Club
Warragul Downtowner Community Club of the Year: Poowong Football Netball Club
Senior Most Disciplined Club: Buln Buln
EDFNL Life Membership: Paul Alger
