Corio star claims Whitley Medal

CORIO Devils midfielder Joel Bennett has taken out the Geelong & District Football League’s (GDFL) Whitley Medal as the league best and fairest in 2023 at the GDFL Awards Night tonight (Wednesday, August 30).

The Devils co-coach and captain polled in 12 games and was named best on ground eight times to amass a whopping 30 votes.

Bennett finished six votes ahead of Werribee Centrals midfielder Tyler Crennan (24 votes) and 12 votes ahead of Winchelsea’s Tavae Sauni (18 votes).

He polled in Round 1 (one vote), and Round 3 (two votes) to get his polling underway, before a string of best on grounds solidified his lead among vote-getters.

Bennett polled three votes in Round 4, Round 5, Round 6 and Round 7, before snagging three more votes in Round 9 against Belmont, placing his vote total at 18 heading into the second half of the season.

Bennett picked up where he left off in Round 11, polling three votes against East Geelong, again in Round 12 against Inverleigh, and three more against Thomson in Round 13 despite his side’s 101-point loss to the Tigers.

He further increased his lead at the top of the vote count with two votes in Round 14 and a single vote in Round 17 to make it an even 30, capping off one of the best individual performances in GDFL history.

The Devils midfielder and co-coach statistically led the way in multiple facets of the game all year, leading the competition in disposals (605), clearances (140), kicks (483), goal assists (27), score involvements (161), smothers (19), and inside 50s (145).

Bennett was also named Team of the Year captain for the second-straight year.

The Top 10 vote-getters in the GDFL’s Whitley Medal for 2023:

1. Joel Bennett (Corio) – 30 votes
2. Tyler Crennan (Werribee Centrals) – 24 votes
3. Tavae Sauni (Winchelsea) – 18 votes
4. Brad Surkitt (Inverleigh) – 17 votes
5. Nick Peters (Bannockburn) – 16 votes
6. Tim Barton (Bell Post Hill) – 16 votes
7. Tim McLennan (East Geelong) – 16 votes
8. Andrew Jarvis (Thomson) – 16 votes
9. Adam Donohue (Inverleigh) – 15 votes
10. Zach Plant (Thomson) – 15 votes

Thomson’s minor premiership year was duly recognised with five players and head coach Paul Lynch making the GDFL Team of the Year.

Steve Salajan (half-back), Jahd Anderson (wing), Darcy Troop (half-forward), Andrew Jarvis (ruck) and Zac Plant (interchange) were listed in the side.

Bannockburn’s ruck/forward Kieran Fulton (interchange), Luke Bowdern (full-back), and Hayden Spiller (full-back) made the side.

Caleb Bacely (full back), the GDFL’s leading goal-kicker Will Ford (forward), Jack Yates (interchange) and Boe Collins formed Bell Post Hill’s contingent in the side.

Corio’s Joel and Toby Bennett (half-back, ruck rover), Werribee Centrals’ Michael Culliver (wing) and Tyler Crennan (forward), Inverleigh’s Brad Surkitt (centre) and Adam Donohue (half-forward), and Casey Meehan (half-forward), Winchelsea’s Fin Parish (half-back) and Leigh Ellis (forward), and East Geelong’s John McIntyre (interchange) rounded out the side.

The full 2023 Team of the Season:

Winchelsea’s Bailey Forssman and Thomson’s Mitchell Simons walked out of Buckley’s Entertainment Centre as co-recipients of the Ivan Tansing medal after solid seasons for their respective clubs.

Both players finished the night with 15 votes, while Werribee Centrals’ Callum O’Malley rounded out the top three with 13 votes.