PLUS: GFL MATHIESON MEDAL COUNT
NEWTOWN & Chilwell star Matt McMahon has claimed back-to-back Mathieson Medals in a runaway vote count last night.
The gun midfielder finished 12 votes clear of next-best, Grovedale captain Nathan Deans, to claim his second straight league best-and-fairest with 32 votes this season.
Only once in the past six years has the highly respected McMahon finished outside the top three in the Mathieson Medal vote count.
He finished runner-up in 2013 and 2014 and equal-third in 2016, before claiming his maiden league award last year.
Leopold trio Samuel Scott (16 votes), Trent West (15) and Jai Thompson (15) all stole votes off each other, with Lions teammates Marcus Thompson (10) and Tom Ruggles (9) also finishing in the top 15. However, McMahon dominated Newtown & Chilwell’s season, polling seven best-on-grounds in the last 12 rounds to go with a number of minor placings in a lopsided count. His second- straight league award looked in no doubt at the halfway point of the season, and 14 votes in the last six games sealed the runaway win.
Deans’ 20 votes saw him finish one clear of third-placed St Mary’s skipper Jacob Welsh.
The Grovedale onballer polled maximum votes in all four of his side’s games against North Shore and Geelong West, and was also voted best in his side’s 44point loss to South Barwon in Round 12.
Deans also claimed the Geelong Advertiser player of the year award.
Colac captain Lochie Veale (14 votes) and coach Kane Leersen (10) featured prominently, while Andrew Boseley (10) and Ethan Baker (9) were the Swans’ top vote getters.
Meanwhile, the GFL coaches have selected a star-studded team of the year, with Leopold’s Guy Morphet selected as the coach.
The Lions had seven players represented in the 24-man squad.
Meanwhile, North Shore’s Tim Ivermee claimed the reserves league award.