IT SIMPLY HAS TO BE SIMON
MATT TYQUIN (Bannockburn)
Position: Midfield/Forward Games: 9 Goals: 17
Times in best: 5 Age: 23 Tyquin (right) has always been blessed with talent and height, but has at times been unfairly challenged with comparisons to his legendary goalkicking father Wayne since the day he made his senior debut. Stats don’t tell the full story but he collected 27 disposals in the GDFL’s interleague win. He was moved forward in the final term against Geelong West and kicked four goals in 15 minutes as well, so can impact matches in a hurry. JAK KENNEDY-HUNT (Inverleigh) Position: Forward Games: Goals: 31 Times in best: 3 Age: 29 Many names have been crossed off the list due to injury — and Kennedy-Hunt (left) could have been one of them due to his quad injury. Still, the reigning Whitley Medal winner has managed to slot 31 majors in one month of footy. When you kick 141 goals from 22 games, there’s every chance you’re still the No.1, but he’s more worried about the bigger prize in September. 5 Midfield
8 29 Belmont Lions legend Haami Williams remains the only man to take out a Whitley Medal (2007) at Winter Reserve. If Belmont can continue to build its midfield around Dylan Witney (right) in the next 18 months, then there is every chance the soon-to-be 30-year-old may join Williams on the honour board. A former Bell Post Hill and Grovedale ball winner, his legacy is noted by the opposing midfield coaches each week. 10 Honourable mentions: Jake Barlow (Bell Post Hill); Caleb Brown (Winchelsea); Rob Logue (Inverleigh); Brayden Mitchell (Geelong West); Tom Mathieson (North Geelong); Andy Challis (Corio). Players ineligible due to injury and absence: Caleb Bacely (Bell Post Hill); Alexander Bowles (Thomson); Ashley Brown (East Geelong); Rhys Burke (Bell Post Hill); Bradley Carlton (Werribee Centrals); Matthew Costello (Winchelsea); Scott Galloway (Geelong West); David Holzfeind (Bell Post Hill); Jared Matheson (Thomson) Jamie Pitman (Anakie); Tane Rabbas (Bell Post Hill); Ryan Rich (East Geelong); Dylan Shelley (Corio); Jackson Smith (Winchelsea); Brayden Sneddon (Werribee Centrals); Luke Turner (Bell Post Hill); Brent Watkins (Belmont Lions). 14
5. Matt James (Bell Post Hill) Position: Midfield Games: 10 Goals: 6 Times in best: 6 Age: 23 The speed and impact of returning Bell Post Hill junior Matt James has been the shining light of the Panthers’ quest for an eighth flag in nine seasons. His energetic leads, extra efforts at the stoppages and trademark run and carry have been important in close games this year. You could not have picked a more worthy member to join Bell Post Hill’s premiership club if the Panthers can get up again this year. Defender/forward 10 6
4 27 A six-time premiership player and a regular interleague representative. One of the seven Panthers who polled seven (or more) Whitley Medal votes last year, such is the Panthers’ spread of talent. The Panthers livewire has played forward and back this year and has been instrumental with each task.
Midfield 7 11
3 27 After five hamstring injuries by the age of 27, it appears Hutchinson has handed his curse over to the Adelaide Crows and finally returned to his 2016 match-winning form. The midfielder was dynamic against Winchelsea on Saturday and kicked three goals in the second quarter alone.
Defender 9 3
7 28 Alex Gubbins would almost certainly be winning Winchelsea’s best-and-fairest by a mile. He was trialled up forward during his injury-plagued 2017 season, however the former Grovedale defender is now back where he belongs. Could he be Winchelsea’s first Whitley medallist?
Midfield/defender 9 9
8 23 While Grundell has been bumped from No.7 to No.9 since last year’s list, he has actually improved and will be a walk-up start into next year’s interleague side. One of Inverleigh’s most dedicated players.
Defender 9 8
4 26 Jacka has come a long way in the past two years, headlined by his impressive back-to-back performances at interleague level. Though the addition of Travis McGuire has allowed the Thomson captain to drift forward, he remains the best intercept mark in the league.
Defender 8 0
3 30 Addie remains the best lockdown defender in the league. A six-time premiership player (four as captain), five-time Team of the Year member and seven-time interleague representative. Enough said.
Midfield 8 4
4 34 After finishing runner-up in last year’s Whitley medal, Holwell has returned firing with the energy of a TAC Cup ball-winner half his age. Tagged well at times but still makes the list for the impact he still has.
Defender/forward 8 12
4 22 Best remains 13th for the second straight year. McDowell has moved the small defender forward against top sides Winchelsea and Thomson. Remains fit after training with VFL side Casey. Utility 9 29 6 29 Arguably just as big of a revelation as his teammate Jak Kennedy-Hunt in recent years. He was once moved forward in a QAFL grand final and booted 10 goals after halftime. Seddon can find the footy in any weather condition and has proven to be the missing piece of Mark McDowell’s ongoing premiership puzzle. Don’t be deceived by his Boomer Harvey-like frame as he wins most contests down back, is accurate in front of goal and remains unstoppable in the middle.
Forward 9 36
3 24 How can Ettridge miss out on the top 10? Though he leads the goalkicking, 13 of his 36 goals were against Corio. Still, he’s the best forward in the GDFL bar Kennedy-Hunt and proved his worth on the big stage with a six-goal haul in the grand final, winning the best-on-ground medal.
Forward/ruck 9 19
3 22 The biggest drop after he was named fourth last year. Fulton has battled through injuries this season but still managed an impressive four goals on Beau McNamara.
Defender 9 2
7 29 The Hawks defender has been highly rated by his teammates as the best defender in the league. He brings professionalism down back from highly regarded GFL and Hampden clubs.
Defender 8 4
6 27 McNamara displayed arguably the match-winning lockdown in the interleague clash. Returning from a stint at GFL club Grovedale, he kept Heathcote goal-machine Matt Perri to a single major.
Midfield 9 8
7 19 While the only teenager on the list, Matt Tyquin considers Smith as his toughest opponent. By the age of 18 he had claimed a senior premiership and league best-andfairest with Mount Waverley in the Southern FL second division.
Defender 9 1
5 Arguably the highestcredentialed played in the league with seven GFL flags at South Barwon, one at Geelong Amateur and a VFL career under then-Werribee coach Alastair Clarkson. He may already have his hand on Thomson’s senior best-andfairest award. 38
Ruckman 9 4
3 27 Hard to leave names like Barlow, Logue, Leamer and Grozdanovski out for a second straight year. Wilson’s interleague medal-winning performance helped put his name back on the map. * This list is a reflection of the efforts each player has displayed so far in season 2018 as we approach the halfway way mark this weekend