Swans share Mathieson Medal in best and fairest count

TWO South Barwon teammates have shared the Geelong Football League’s highest individual honour, in an unexpected conclusion to the GFNL Awards Night this evening (September 20).

Swans teammates Matt Caldow and Fraser Fort have been named co-recipients of the Mathieson Medal, with both players polling 22 votes at tonight’s count.

South Barwon captain Matt Caldow is now a Mathieson Medallist.

It is the first time teammates have shared the GFL best and fairest award since 1995 when North Shore teammates Jason McGowan and Glenn Keast featured in a four-way tie with South Barwon’s Shane Korth and St Albans’ Alister Ford.

It is the first time teammates have solely shared the award since its inception in 1979.

Caldow and Fort, who will both feature in this Saturday’s GFL Grand Final against Leopold, polled three more votes than Colac’s Bailey Scott (19 votes).

Fraser Fort shares the Mathieson Medal with teammate Matt Caldow in 2023.

Leopold’s Logan Wagener and Grovedale’s Ryan Abbott rounded out the top five with 17 votes each.

Caldow polled in nine games, earning best-on-ground honours on five occasions (Round 1, Round 3, Round 6, Round 7, Round 16).

Fort also polled in nine games, polling maximum votes in four matches (Round 8, Round 10, Round 13, Round 15).

Colac’s Bailey Scott finished third in the voting with 19 votes.

The pair are the first Swans to take out the Mathieson Medal in 16 years, following on from Mark Corrigan who won it alongside Grovedale’s David Mensch in 2007.

The Swans added to the celebrations with first-year Swans head coach Mark Neeld receiving the Coach of the Year recognition.

Fort, Caldow and backman Jack Driver rounded out South Barwon’s representation in the Coaches’ Team of the Year.

Colac were most represented with six different Tigers earning selections.

Jack Melican was named to the full-back position, Jarryn McCormack was selected at centre half-back, Bailey Scott and Darcy Lang were on the wings, Adam Garner was named at forward pocket and Zachary Zdybel was named the team’s ruck.

Leopold’s Logan Wagener polled 17 votes to finish equal-fourth in the voting.

Leopold captain Marcus Thomson was named the Team of the Year captain, alongside teammates Logan Wagener and Tevan Nofi who were named to the interchange and back pocket respectively.

Other nominees included Lara’s Daniel Weigl, St Joseph’s skipper Alex Hickey and Paddy De Grandi, Grovedale’s Mitch Chafer and Ryan Abbott, Geelong West’s Phillip Moimoi and Tanner Lovell, St Mary’s Jarryd Garner and the GFL’s leading goal-kicker Sam Dobson, and Bell Park’s Lachlan Patten.

The GFL reserves’ Allthorpe Medal was also shared on the night between Newtown & Chilwell’s Archie Lazzaro and Leopold’s Kyle Bumpstead.