Rushworth’s Liam Francis has claimed the KDL’s McNamara Medal.
Photo by
Matthew Kappos
At the Kyabram District League’s night of nights, Rushworth’s fairytale run has continued in the McNamara Medal, while the A-grade netball Warren Medal has finished in a heart-stopping tie.
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The league’s best-and-fairest count was held on Thursday night at the GV Hotel, and it was Rushworth’s Liam Francis who claimed the senior football gong for his exceptional season in midfield for the Tigers.
Francis recorded 30 votes, it’s the most a player has recorded in nearly a decade, when Avenel’s Kasey Duncan notched 34 in the 2016 KDL season.
Francis was pivotal in the Tigers’ run to a maiden finals berth this decade, following a dry-spell year at the bottom rung of the ladder in 2022 and recess in 2023, before signs of improvement flashed in a five-win season in 2024.
Meanwhile, in the reserves competition, Stanhope’s Brad Canny has completed the esteemed and elusive treble feat.
Winning a premiership medal in the Lions’ upset against Murchison-Toolamba, Canny claimed best-on-ground honours and now, the league’s reserves best-and-fairest to boot.
Clinching the Wade Medal with 31 votes, Canny is the first to finish a reserves season with all three major medallions since Nagambie’s Ben Robinson in 2016.
In the A-grade netball, the Warren Medal was awarded to Girgarre’s Allana Adams and Shepparton East’s Lauren James.
Shepparton East's Lauren James has received a tied Warren Medal.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The opposing grand finalist pair could not be split, locked in at 31 votes apiece.
Both goal defenders aided their teams to top-two ladder finishes, as well as boasting the top-two defences in the league, conceding the fewest goals per game in the competition.
Given the duo shares roles on court, James was named as the starting goal defender in the team of the year, with Adams shifted to a sub position.
Shepparton East and Girgarre featured three respective players in the team of 12, while Nagambie was the only other side to feature multiple players.
Rushworth, Undera, Murchison-Toolamba and Tallygaroopna had one representative.
Girgarre’s Allana Adams went home on Thursday night with best-and-fairest silverware.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Francis slotted into left wing in the football team of the year as the sole Rushworth nominee.
Shepparton East boasted the most representatives in the side with four, while premier Murchison-Toolamba and runner-up Lancaster had three named in a line-up comprised of 12 sides.
League president Peter Cordy reflected positively on the night as the curtain closed on a blockbuster campaign.
“It was a fantastic night where representatives from each of our member clubs came together to celebrate the league’s best and fairest as well as our other award winners,” he said.
KDL Netball Team of the Year
GS: Jacqui Gahan (Girgarre)
GA: Rylee Alderton (Nagambie)
WA: Greta Small (Nagambie)
C: Holly Nelson (Girgarre)
WD: Sarah Maskell (Shepparton East)
GD: Lauren James (Shepparton East)
GK: Ashlyn Materne (Rushworth)
INTER: Allana Adams (Girgarre), Kelsey McDonald (Murchison-Toolamba), Leanna Valentin (Undera), Fiona Down (Tallygaroopna), Kate Durling (Shepparton East)
KDL Football Team of the Year
FB: Adam Lovison (Lancaster), Jye Borg (Murchison-Toolamba), Stuart Trevena (Stanhope)
HB: Jamie Spencer (Shepparton East), Andrew Lloyd (Murchison-Toolamba), Mark Nolan (Nagambie)
C: Liam Francis (Rushworth), Jayden Dhoshi (Murchison-Toolamba), Jack Myers (Avenel)
HF: James Milne (Murchison-Toolamba), Billy Barnes (Girgarre), Cameron Simpson (Lancaster)
