Madigan tops Mathieson count

ONE of South Barwon’s finest has been named this year’s Mathieson Medal winner just days out from competing in the Geelong Football League (GFL) Grand Final.

Swans midfielder Doyle Madigan won the league best and fairest award this evening (Tuesday, September 24), finishing the season with 19 votes, two ahead of Geelong West’s Tanner Lovell (17).

It marks consecutive years the Mathieson Medal has headed to McDonald Reserve, following 2023’s dramatic tie between Swans captain Matt Caldow and Fraser Fort.

Madigan got his count under way in Round 2, earning a best-on-ground performance against Lara.

Madigan polled one vote against Joeys in Round 3, one vote against Colac in Round 4, a vote in Round 6 against St Albans, a vote against North Shore in Round 7, and three votes against Bell Park to round out the first half of the year on 10 votes.

The 259-gamer secured two more best on ground performances in Round 11 against Geelong West and in Round 12 against Grovedale to take his total to 16.

Madigan wrapped up his polling with three more votes in Round 16 against the Dragons, enough to take out the Mathieson Medal. Despite his excellent season, Madigan was not listed in the Coaches Team of the Year.

Madigan is the seventh player to receive the medal in the club’s history, joining fellow clubmen Dennis Pacor (1992), Shane Korth (1995), Glen Wallace (2000), Mark Corrigan (2007), and Caldow and Fort (2023).

The 2024 Team of the Year was well represented by minor premiers St Joseph’s, who had six players in the 22-man squad led by coach Ron Watt.

St Mary’s had four representatives, while Grand Finalists Leopold had three players listed and South Barwon had one.

Now signed to Geelong Amateur for 2025, Lara’s Daniel Weigl received a nomination, North Shore’s Nathan Arbon made the cut, and Geelong West’s Tanner Lovell was announced as well.

See the full Team of the Year below:

Bell Park’s Hamish Dawson was named the winner of the Allthorpe Medal as the Reserves competition’s best and fairest, St Joseph’s was named the football club champions and Rookie of the Year was awarded to Colac’s Tobyn Murray.

Here is the top 10 vote getters from tonight:

• Doyle Madigan (South Barwon) – 19 votes
• Tanner Lovell (Geelong West) – 17 votes
• Lachlan Patten (Bell Park) – 15 votes
• Marcus Thompson (Leopold) – 15 votes
• Darcy Lang (Colac) – 14 votes
• Jack Buckley (St Joseph’s) – 14 votes
• Zachary Zdybel (Colac) – 14 votes
• Emmanuel Ajang (GWG) – 13 votes
• Joe Maishman (St Mary’s) – 13 votes
• Adam Garner (Colac),Harry Benson (St Mary’s), Paddy De Grandi (St Joseph’s) and Ryan Abbott (Grovedale) – 12 votes