“Surreal” moment for Whitley Medal winner

CORIO Devils midfielder Joel Bennett described the moment he won the Geelong & District Football League’s (GDFL) Whitley Medal as “surreal” after he polled 30 votes at yesterday’s (Wednesday, August 30) Awards Night.

Bennett, who became the first Devil to win the competition’s highest individual accolade since Ricky O’Toole in 2003, symbolised the medal as the sum of his team’s efforts.

“It’s not really something you think about until a couple days before the Awards Night when everyone starts wishing you luck, but yeah, it’s pretty surreal,” Bennett said during his speech.

“The award is more so not about me playing well, the club was in a pretty bad state in 2019, and now we’re starting to play well against other good sides.

“It’s about the guys that have come into the group this season, guys like Jack Green, Destyn Burns and countless more. I know it’s a cliché, but it’s got nothing to do with me.”

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 12 games and was named best on ground eight times to amass a whopping 30 votes.

Bennett, fresh off inking a two-year extension with the club alongside father and co-coach Darren, remains committed to the Devils family.

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

Joel was not the only Corio player to receive accolades on the night with brother, Toby Bennett, also receiving Team of the Season honours in the half-back line, an emotional moment for the Whitley Medal recipient.

“I won the Whitley, but I’m prouder of the fact I made the Team of the Year with my brother,” Bennett said.

“That means so much more to me than the medal around my neck, my brother doesn’t get the recognition he deserves of how good of a footballer he is.

“He’s a pretty good footballer and I’m so proud he’s in the team with me, but since I came back to the club, there hasn’t been anyone from Corio making the side, so to see his name up there with mine is pretty cool.

“I’m extremely proud of him.”

Bennett will start off-season recruiting in the coming months alongside his father in what he described as exciting times for the Corio Community Sports Club.

Full Awards Night gallery by Marcel Berens can be found HERE