GDFNL’s top honours awarded

THE Geelong District Football Netball League has crowned its champion players for this season, with Bell Post Hill captain Jack Yates and Belmont Lion Molly Gribble taking home top honours.

Yates polled 24 votes – four clear of second place – to win his first Neville Whitley Medal, while Gribble scored 28 votes to secure her second straight Margaret Webb Medal.

The Bell Post Hill leader in Yates scored seven best afield and polled in nine matches to triumph over Michael Culliver (Werribee Centrals) and Andrew Boseley (Anakie) on 20 votes and Bradley Mitchell (Belmont Lions) on 19 votes.

Yates is a two-time club senior best and fairest winner at Bell Post Hill, a senior premiership player, and has been captain since 2019.

It was a breakthrough result for Yates, who has finished in the top 10 and top five of the award on multiple occasions.

Gribble finished three votes clear of Werribee Centrals player Julia Nash to make it a very successful first season at Belmont since crossing from the Corio Devils.

 

The star-mid-courter goes into prestigious company as a two-time Margaret Webb Medallist.

Other award winners on the night included B Grade best and fairest Cody Dixon (North Geelong), C Grade winner Megan James (Thomson), D Grade best and fairest Jacinta O’Mealley (Inverleigh) and E Grade joint winners Mikayla Treacy (Winchelsea) and Zoe Bell (Inverleigh).

The Ivan Tansing Medal for the league best and fairest for reserve grade football was awarded to Sam King (East Geelong).

Brayden Vicars (Bannockburn) finished in second, while Christopher Warwick (East Geelong) and Brooklyn Johnston (Belmont Lions) tied for third.