THE best of the Eastern Football League were officially recognised at the annual Chandler Medal presentation evening on Wednesday night, including the induction of a legend.
WATCH | Re-live the night’s festivities below:
The EFL’s night of nights saw East Burwood’s Matt Mariani become just the 15th official League legend after winning the Stephen Jones Medal as the best and fairest in Division 4 with 28 votes, in front of over 400 in attendance at Doncaster’s Manningham Function Centre.
EFL legend status is awarded to players who win three senior competition best and fairest medals, with Mariani also claiming the Paul Edie Medal in the third-tier competition with Templestowe in 2014 and 2016.
VERMONT’s Brett Eddy took out the 2019 Sir Gilbert Chandler Medal as the best and fairest player in Premier Division, capping off a stellar season for the lively, former Port Adelaide forward.
Eddy was crowned the EFL’s top individual honour by polling 16 votes, finishing just one vote ahead of Balwyn’s Charlie Haley.
The Eagles spearhead also booted 62 goals throughout the home and away season to claim the Premier Division All Trophies Leading Goalkicker award, to be also named in the SEN Premier Division Team of the Year at full forward.
Bayswater’s Kurt Lopo was named the Kenneth Wright medallist for the best and fairest player in Division 1 – the second Bayswater player to win the award in as many years after team-mate Joel Galvin in 2018. Lopo, a crucial cog in the Bayswater engine room, finished on a run-away 30 votes, 12 ahead of Upper Ferntree Gully’s Tom Meagher in second position.
Division 2 saw 19-year-old Jaxon Gervasoni of Mulgrave claim the Paul Edie Medal on 18 votes, holding off Boronia’s Matt Buzinskas and Mitcham’s Will Gordon who finished two behind.
South Belgrave captain Liam Kidd capped off a dominant year, awarded the Perc James Medal as the best and fairest in Division 3, eight votes clear ahead of runner-up and team-mate Tim Riseley.
Meanwhile, South Croydon’s Naomi Linossier took out the Netball EFL Premier Division best and fairest award, finishing on 21 votes to win by eight.
AWARD WINNERS
Under-19s best and fairest:
Premier Division: Lachlan Harry (Blackburn)
Division 1: Ngong Arou (Surrey Park)
Division 2: Josh Valle (Mitcham)
Division 3: Nash Butler (South Belgrave)
Division 4: Mason Byrne (Fairpark)
Reserves best and fairest:
Premier Division: Callan Burns (Rowville)
Division 1: David MacDonald (Park Orchards)
Division 2: Nathan McKeown (Mitcham)
Division 3: Matthew Young (South Belgrave)
Division 4: Nick Prelorenzo (East Burwood)
Senior best and fairest:
Premier Division: Brett Eddy (Vermont)
Division 1: Kurt Lopo (Bayswater)
Division 2: Jaxon Gervasoni (Mulgrave)
Division 3: Liam Kidd (South Belgrave)
Division 4: Matt Mariani (East Burwood)
Netball EFL best and fairest:
Premier Division – Naomi Linossier (South Croydon)
Division 1 – Nikki Whitten (Knox), Melissa Carter (Scoresby), Nicole Stone (Scoresby)
Division 2 – Jessica Hoskin (Mulgrave)
Division 3 – Samantha Singh (Vermont)
Division 4 – Olivia Nation (Lilydale)
Division 5 – Tegan Pohl (Ringwood)
Division 6 – Carly Hewett (Glen Wav. Hawks)
Division 7 – Sally Tran (Norwood)
BJS Insurance Veterans best and fairest: Craig Anderson (Noble Park)
All Trophies Leading Goal-kickers:
Premier Division – Brett Eddy (Vermont, 62)
Division 1 – Aaron Mullett (Mooroolbark, 72)
Division 2 – Jake Parente (Mitcham, 54)
Division 3 – Leigh Odermatt (Sth Belgrave, 67)
Division 4 – Leigh Kimpton (Silvan, 79)
All Trophies Leading Goal-shooters:
Premier Division – Lauren Woodgate – Wantirna South – 417 goals
Division 1 – Belinda Williams – Scoresby – 378 goals
Division 2 – Jessica Hoskin – Mulgrave – 380 goals
Division 3 – Kellie Phillips – Vermont – 289 goals
Division 4 – Sarah Caldow – Montrose – 299 goals
Division 5 – Abbey Jordanov – Ringwood – 241 goals
Division 6 – Olivia Clear – Balwyn – 308 goals
Division 7 – Pia Walker – Glen Waverley Hawks – 183 goals
Clinton Grybas Media Award: Gavin Casey
Club Warehouse Senior Trainer of the Year: Nigel Callanan
TEAMS OF THE YEAR
