The East Gippsland Football Netball League held its 2025 Vote Count and Presentation Night last week at the Bairnsdale RSL.
The major awards were taken out by Stratford’s Nathan Pollard and Lucknow stars Link McKenna and Erica Lynch.
Pollard received three votes in the final round of the season when his side went down to arch rival Boisdale Briagolong, tying with McKenna, who missed several matches through injury, for the senior football best and fairest, with 15 votes.
McKenna has been a key player for Lucknow in their quest for premiership glory, playing as a hard-running midfielder.
Boisdale’s Jackson Glenane and ineligible teammate Kelvin Porter, finished on 14 votes with Lindenow veteran Justin Gould.
The trade award was won by Paynesville’s Jordan Farquhar with 31 votes.
The goalkicking winner was Boisdale Briagolong skipper Jimmy Reeves with 51 goals.
Lynch (24 votes), the Magpie captain-coach, put together another outstanding campaign, winning the “A” grade best and fairest by five votes from Bomber young gun Ashlee McDonough.
The trade award was won by Stratford Tori Patterson with 25 votes.
After a dominant season in the reserves, Rob Maisey (25) was a runaway winner from Bomber big man Jarrad Neilson (17), with Lakes Entrance full forward Noah Bottom winning the goal kicking with 53 goals.
In the under 17.5 football, Titus Harrison claimed the best and fairest by one vote from Seagull speedster Bill Prior, who has been a revelation in his first year of football.
Blues spearhead Angus Joiner took out the goalkicking with 48 goals.
While the “Bert Williamson” Spirit of Sport under 17.5 football award was taken out by Sam Dekkers from Stratford.
The Charlie Owen Spirit of Sport under 17.5 most disciplined football club award winner was Lakes Entrance, with their coach Jordan Cullen, the Spirit of Sport Under 17.5 football coach of the year.
Prior capped off a great season winning the Rising Star.
Taryn Cunningham from Boisdale was an easy winner of the “B” grade netball award, finishing seven votes ahead of theTigers’ Symantha Churches.
In “C” grade, Lucknow’s Tegan Jenkins (26) was an easy eight shot victor over Tiger Ashley Atkinson.
In “D” grade, Boisdale duo Chloe Bedggood and Madeleine Glenane tied for the top honour.
Claudia Blandford from Lindenow was the winner of the best and fairest in the 17 and under netball, finishing with 27 votes, three ahead of Lakes Entrance’s Makayla Grabham.
The Rising Star award was shared by Blandford and Lucknow’s Charlotte Walkley.
It was a nail-biting finale in the under 15s, with Lucknow’s Rosalie Cawood (26), a narrow winner from Stratford’s Mollie Delaney (25).
The “Nesta Owen” Spirit of Sport 15 and under netball award was taken out by Orbost’s Holly Hanratty.
It was a hotly contested vote in the 13 and under netball, with Wy Yung’s Indie Cavanagh (28) defeating Lucknow’s Mia Robinson by two votes.
Volunteer of the year awards winners were Tyler Ramsdell (Paynesville), Amy Walkley and Nick O’Brien (both Lucknow).
Most disciplined club award winners for 2025 were Lucknow, Orbost Snowy Rovers and Paynesville football netball clubs.
right) and runner-up Mollie Delaney (Stratford). (PS)
