GFNL's best players crowned

GFNL’s best players crowned

Ned Harris with ball in hand for Newtown & Chilwell against Geelong West earlier this year. Photos: MICHAEL CHAMBERS

THE Geelong Football Netball League (GFNL) has crowned its top players for the 2025 season, with a two-way tie in the Mathieson Medal and a first-time winner in A Grade Netball.

Newtown & Chilwell onballer Ned Harris and star Bell Park recruit Jett Bermingham shared the winning votes for senior football’s highest individual honour.

Bell Park star recruit Jett Bermingham (far right) competes for the ball against North Shore.

Harris also received the P&R Coaches Player of the Year Award and was named captain of the Team of the Year.

Fellow ‘Towner’ Ruby Pekin-Schlicht took home her first ever Julia Woolley Medal for top player in senior netball.

The defender was rock solid for Newtown & Chilwell throughout the 2025 campaign and has been a key cog in getting the side into another A Grade Grand Final.

Ruby Pekin-Schlicht was awarded the GFNL’s top netball honour.

Pekin Schlicht also received the P&R Coaches Player of the Year award and was named in the Team of the Year.

She will unfortunately miss the 2025 GFNL Grand Final due to study abroad.

The Allthorpe Medal for Reserves Best and Fairest was won by Xavier Hayter (Leopold), with three players tying for second place.

The leading senior goalkicker was Connor Giddings from Leopold with 68 goals, whilst Fletcher Hughes was awarded the Rising Star Award.

South Barwon sharpshooter Ellen Doyle was awarded the A Grade Hotshots award for scoring a whopping 808 goals during the season.

Tilly Baker from Lara was awarded the Rising Star of the Year Award for A Grade netball.

Other league best and fairest award winners included Matilda Puckett (B Grade), Kirsty Fagan (C Grade), Sophie King (D Grade) and Jesse Morrissy (E Grade).