Latest Lightfoot Medal winner to be crowned

Mar 21, 2021

Cricket Shepparton's evening of evenings will be held this week to once again mark the start of traditional grand final proceedings.

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The D and E-grade premiers have already been decided, but A, B and C-grade flags are still there to be won — as are the individual awards across the grades.

The Lightfoot Medal — awarded to the best player in the Haisman Shield — is the crowning glory of Monday night's event at the Sherbourne Terrace Hotel, and with teams only completing eight or nine matches the count should be tighter than ever across the board.

Although it would have to be an extremely exciting finish to the count to best last season's affair, when Nagambie's Mark Nolan and Northerners’ Joel Brett tied on 19 votes apiece.

Nolan is chasing a three-peat in the award, but had an individual season below his lofty standards, while Brett's search for back-to-back "Berts" could prove a fruitful one after another great summer.

The challengers will emerge thick and fast on the night though.

Numurkah duo Michael Eckard and Dylan Grandell should poll well after playing crucial roles — either solo or alongside each other — in Blues’ victories this season.

Grand finalists Mooroopna and Waaia have reached the final day of the campaign through even team performances, but standouts should include the likes of Brodie McDonald and Luke Zanchetta for the Cats and Liam Evans and Mitch Cleeland for the Bombers.

Nagambie's bowlers like Kyle Winter-Irving and Brayden Biggs steered the side to the top of the table throughout the summer, while for Kyabram the performances of Paul Newman and Kyle Mueller are hard to ignore in the middle.

In the teams that missed finals Ramadan Yze (Central Park-St Brendan's), Nick Breslin (Old Students), Andrew Riordan (Katandra), Keegan Armstrong (Shepparton United), Sham Dadallage (Euroa), Stuart Turner (Karramomus) and Blake Armstrong (Tatura) were consistent contributors, especially in wins and close losses.

Lightfoot Medal tips

Tyler Maher

1. Michael Eckard

2. Liam Evans

3. Joel Brett

Roughie: Brayden Biggs

Aydin Payne

1. Michael Eckard

2. Liam Evans

3. Nick Breslin

Roughie: Billy McLay

Ron Anderson