Hawk spearhead takes out medal

INVERLEIGH forward Jak Kennedy-Hunt capped off a stunning season last night, claiming the GDFL’s coveted Whitley Medal.

The first-year Hawk polled 20 of his final 23 votes in the season’s opening 10 rounds before receiving best-on-ground honours in his side’s six-point victory over Bannockburn in Round 14.

The 28-year-old was moved to the midfield for part of the second half and finished with five goals, 10 marks and 22 disposals.

He played two quarters the following week, booting six goals to bring his season tally to 104 from 14 games, before sitting out the rest of the season with injury.

This allowed some of the league’s outsiders a chance to match his tally at the home straight.

Bannockburn spearhead Jason Tom also polled against KennedyHunt in the split round to bring his season tally to 15 votes.

Yet with four games remaining, Tom would only add another three votes from his win over East Geelong in Round 17.

Thomson playing co-coach Reece Holwell was the last contender with two rounds to go polling eight votes from Round 14 to 16 to bring him to 20.

Though Thomson would secure their spot in the finals with a 22point win over Geelong West in Round 17, Holwell’s 16 disposal performance would not attract any votes.

Given the Tiger would miss the final week (ankle injury) it was by this stage that Kennedy-Hunt had been announced as the outright winner.

This continued the trend of GDFL leading goal-kickers to take out the award following 2016 recipient Brent Macleod (Thomson) and Jamie Pitman (North Geelong) in 2015.

Kennedy-Hunt, who became the first Hawk to kick a century of goals this season, now joins Jace Kelly (2009) and Clayton Trotter (2002) as Inverleigh Whitley medallists.