By David Nagel
Is a century-goal season enough to claim the 2023 West Gippsland Football Netball Competition (WGFNC) league medal – or will midfield dominance continue on presentation night at the Warragul Greyhound Club on Monday?
Cora Lynn’s Nathan Gardiner – who kicked 103 goals during a career-defining 2023 – and star Inverloch-Kongwak defender Tate Short, would appear the main dangers to a stunning midfield brigade chasing the sixth medal in WGFNC history.
The previous honour roll of champions provides an insight into the quality of the competition, with local legends Andrew Soumilas (2017) and Brendan Kimber (2018) being joined on the dais by former AFL players Cameron Pedersen (2019, ’21) and Brent Macaffer (2022).
It’s a list that could match any community competition in the land for status in the game.
Gardiner’s season could seriously test the mantra – and mostly a common-known fact – that league medals are purely a midfield award.
His two bags of 12 goals should attract maximum votes, while one haul of eight, two sevens, and five bags of six will decide his place in the pecking order.
The Cobras’ gun polled 11 votes after kicking 78 goals during the home-and-away season last year, 14 short of Macaffer on 25, so will need those six-goal games to count to claim this year’s award.
Ruck Billy Thomas, and midfielder Nathan Gillis – who played 12 games before missing the last six through injury – could snatch votes away from Gardiner on the night.
Winning games of football has been a proven recipe for success in this award in the past – the first five winners have all come from the top-ranked team – and if that’s the case then we need to take a close look at the chances from Inverloch-Kongwak.
The Sea Eagles were the dominant team during the home-and-away season, with a 17-1 record, and should take away the majority of the 102 votes on offer from those winning games.
From the midfield, Ethan Park and Oscar Toussaint polled well in last year’s award, while Clinton McCaughan and Marcus Toussaint are sure to be vote-getters in the ruck.
Former AFL player Will Hams has had a magnificent season through the midfield and half-forward, but missing a block of four games – from round 10 to round 13 – could harm his chances.
Short has been superb across half-back, and the eye-catching nature of his play is sure to catch the attention of the umpires.
And what a story it would be if Soumilas could add a sixth league medal to his bulging trophy cabinet.
Playing for Garfield, Soumilas won the 2004 Breheny Medal in the now defunct West Gippsland Latrobe western division, and followed that up with the 2005 medal in the Gippsland League.
He repeated that effort in 2011…but this time with Drouin.
Soumilas returned to Garfield to claim the 2013 best and fairest in the Ellinbank league in a three-way tie with Kimber (then of Cora Lynn) and Daniel Barrand.
The then 34-year-old then polled 31 votes in 2017 to win the inaugural WGFNC award by 11 votes from Kimber (Phillip Island) and Macaffer…then at Kilcunda-Bass.
A sixth-award…20 years after his first…now that would be the stuff of legends!
Phillip Island finished second this season, and while that’s a fantastic team achievement you get the feeling that only two players could win the award from that club.
Kimber only played seven games – so not even that great man can win the award this year!
The two hot chances would appear to be Pedersen, chasing his third medal, and classy left-foot midfielder Hayden Bruce.
Pedersen has played every game, and is often under the umpire’s nose, with the ruck-forward also kicking 35 goals this season.
The Bulldogs’ coach has been raving about the efforts of Bruce all year, rating him the clear best midfielder in the competition, so it would be no surprise to see him take home the award.
Bruce was absolutely outstanding, but will need to have a clear lead under his belt after missing the last three games of the season with a broken cheekbone.
The person he ran into…his teammate and brother-in-law Jack Taylor!
Either Pedersen or Bruce would be worthy winners.
Of the other finals contenders, Macaffer and Hayden Bertoli-Simmonds had terrific seasons through the midfield for Tooradin-Dalmore, while Lewis Hill is another that has played a consistent and eye-catching brand of football.
Macaffer is a proven vote-getter, with his football smarts, and voice and communication on the ground, standing head and shoulders above the rest.
Averaging 30 possessions per game, don’t be surprised if he is right in the hunt for his second award.
From Nar Nar Goon, Trent Armour is its best player, but has missed six games through injury, while JJ Peni and Nate Pipicelli have also had solid years.
Dermott Yawney and Deon Boavida are exciting types for the Goon, while Warragul Industrials have such an even spread of players that it’s hard to predict who could poll well.
Matthew Herbert has explosive speed, while Mason McGarrity is the best small-forward in the competition.
But, if he wins it over Gardiner, we could have a riot on our hands.
From outside the top-six, Curtis Murfett has had a solid year from Dalyston, while Mitchell Cammarano finished equal-fourth last year and would appear Kooweerup’s best hope.
Bottom-teams Bunyip, Garfield and Korumburra-Bena would appear devoid of chances, while the two big-guns from Kilcunda-Bass could be the best chance of any players outside the top six.
Ruck Dale Gawley was sandwiched between Macaffer and Pedersen in second place last year, and all reports are he has had an equally good season.
Gawley’s teammate Nathan Foote was also on the leaderboard 12 months ago…and could be the annual surprise packet of the 455 players that played this year.
OUR TIPS
His absence in the last three games may cost him, but we’re tipping Phillip Island’s Hayden Bruce to hang on in a thrilling count from Inverloch-Kongwak pair Tate Short and Will Hams. Nathan Gardiner, Cam Pedersen, Brent Macaffer and Dale Gawley are others that are sure to capture the umpire’s attention. Curtis Murfett (Dalyston) and Angus Emery (Garfield) could be the roughies.
PREVIOUS WINNERS – SENIOR FOOTBALL
2017 Andrew Soumilas Inverloch-Kongwak
2018 Brendan Kimber Phillip Island
2019 Cameron Pedersen Phillip Island
2021 Cameron Pedersen Phillip Island
2022 Brent Macaffer Tooradin-Dalmore
