YARRAWONGA midfielder Mark Whiley has romped to victory in the Pigeons’ best and fairest award.
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The former Greater Western Sydney and Carlton player capped off an outstanding debut season at J.C. Lowe Oval by polling 153 votes – 95 more than runner-up Xavier Leslie.
Drew Barnes (54), Tyler Bonat (52), Connor Hargreaves (45), Matt Gorman (44), Brad O’Connor (43), Lachie Howe (41), Jordan Daniel (37) and Tim Cooper (36) rounded out the top-10.
Whiley was also named player of the finals.
Co-coach Chris Kennedy said it was one of the more dominant seasons he had seen in his time at the helm.
“He was really consistent with his workrate,” Kennedy said.
“Even his poorer games were good games.”
Whiley, 24, finished equal runner-up in the Morris Medal with Wodonga’s Jarrod Hodgkin and Wodonga Raiders’ Brodie Filo behind Albury’s Chris Hyde.
Jake Wild took out Yarrawonga’s best first-year player award.
In the reserves, James Elliot took the honours from Travis Hargreaves while Issac McMillan won the thirds from Ronan Pritchard.
Defender Hannah Symes was a comfortable winner in the A-grade netball.
The former Toni Wilson medallist polled 44 votes with Abbey Jones (31), Annalise Grinter (24), Laura Bourke (16) and Bridget Cassar and Caitlin O'Dwyer (13) rounding out the top five.
Jones was named best player in the finals on the back of a best on court performance in the thrilling grand final win over Lavington.
Kylie Leslie edged out Ange Tyrell in the B grade, Jenny Buerckner took out the C grade from Tayla Bogle and Tilly Kennedy won the under-16s from Laura Zanin.
Meanwhile, North Albury’s Daniel Leslie has clinched his third best and fairest award at Bunton Park.
After being level with young gun Shaun Mannagh after 10 rounds, Leslie stormed clear to win from Lachie Taylor-Nugent and Ben Lloyd.
Skipper David Miles and Ryan Polkinghorne were next.
Leslie joins John Smith and Travis Hodgson as three-time winners of the best and fairest with Brandon Ryan the most decorated player with four.
“Dan wasn’t out of the votes too often,” Hopper co-coach Clinton Gilson said.
Gilson won the reserves from Will Keighran and Jack Penny triumphed in the under-18s ahead of Riley Smith.
In the netball, young defender Nakita Singe won the A-grade from Emily Browne.
Chloe Senior and Nicola Wong took out the B and C grade and Mia Duryea won the under-16s.
