By Jonty Ralphsmith
Cranbourne star Zak Roscoe has been edged out by one vote by a fast-finishing Dylan Weickhardt in the Ellis Medal count for the Division 1 Southern Football Netball League best and fairest.
Roscoe led Weickhardt by five votes after round 13, having started the year with a blitz which saw him work through a tag most weeks.
Three consecutive best-on-ground performances for Cheltenham’s Weickhardt between rounds 14 and 16 saw him rocket to the lead, with Roscoe’s only two votes in that time coming in a big win over Port Melbourne.
Neither player polled in round 17 and Roscoe polled one vote in round 18 to close the gap to a solitary vote in the overall tally.
The umpires had him as the best Eagle on the ground in a 110-point victory, awarding Saints players the two and three votes.
Roscoe’s teammate Ryan Jones finished third with 18 votes, while reigning medallist Lucas Walmsley polled only five votes, Nathan Freeman leading the way for Dingley.
Meanwhile, in Division 2, energetic Doveton midfielder Ricky Johnson finished second with 22 votes, polling multiple votes in each of the last four rounds to finish behind Murrumbeena’s Sam Michael.
Eye-catching Hampton Park midfielder Makaio Haywood was second in the count ahead of round 14, but managed only three more votes for the night, finishing in fourth.
The Flack Medal for the Division 3 Best and Fairest was won by Carrum Patterson Lakes’ Matthew Baxter with 18 votes.
John Rafferty led the count with 22 votes, including back-to-back best-on-ground performances to finish the home and away season, but was ineligible due to suspension.
With 24 votes, Hampton’s Henry Grenville won the Division 4 award, Hayden Egerton’s seven votes the best for Dandenong.
See below for a top-10 by club and local award winners.
Ellis Medal – Division 1 best and fairest top three
Dylan Weickhardt (Cheltenham): 24 votes
Zak Roscoe (Cranbourne): 23 votes
Ryan Jones (Cranbourne): 18 votes
Cranbourne top five
Zak Roscoe (23 votes)
Ryan Jones (18 votes)
Jarryd Barker (12 votes)
Bailey Buntine (5 votes)
Kirk Dickson (4 votes)
Springvale Districts top five
Toby Arms (12 votes)
Daniel Spence (6 votes)
Dylan Quirk (6 votes)
George Angelopoulos (6 votes)
John Walker (6 votes)
Dingley top five
Nathan Freeman (17 votes)
Lachie Lamble (15 votes)
Kristen Feehan (5 votes)
Lochie Benton (5 votes)
Lucas Walmsley (5 votes)
Bennett Medal – Division 2 best and fairest top three
Sam Michael (Murrumbeena): 25 votes
Ricky Johnson (Doveton Doves): 22 votes
Cale Love Linay (East Brighton): 19 votes
Doveton Doves top five
Ricky Johnson (22 votes)
Dylan Chapman (10 votes)
Jake Basa (6 votes)
Max Sheppard (4 votes)
Shannon Henwood (4 votes)
Stuart Johnson (4 votes)
Hampton Park top five
Makaio Haywood (18 votes)
Trent Thomas (9 votes)
Tristan Fernandez-Phillips (9 votes)
Nathan Carver (6 votes)
Tanner Stanton (5 votes)
Keysborough top five
Joseph Bekierz (7 votes)
Brenton Wells (6 votes)
Nick Beer (4 votes)
Cooper Sheppard (3 votes)
Geoffrey Humphreys (3 votes)
Shannon Marsh (3 votes)
Flack Medal – Division 3 best and fairest top three
Matthew Baxter (Carrum Patterson Lakes): 18 votes
Andrew Mathers (Frankston Dolphins): 17 votes
Nicholas Christoforou (Frankston Dolphins): 17 votes
Endeavour Hills top five
Liam Hasler (11 votes)
Bailey Baumann (10 votes)
Alex Cann (6 votes)
Nathan Reid (6 votes)
Sean Van Velsen (6 votes)
*John Rafferty polled 22 votes but was ineligible due to suspension
Narre South Saints top five
Riley Lucas (8 votes)
Shane Woolley (4 votes)
Matt Sherris (3 votes)
Taka Tohiariki (3 votes)
Blake Rogers (2 votes)
Luke Hayes (2 votes)
Tim Shepherdson (2 votes)
Division 4 best and fairest top three
Henry Grenville (Hampton): 24 votes
Chris Baker (South Mornington): 19 votes
Anthony Giuliano (South Mornington): 16 votes
LOCAL WINNERS OF OTHER AWARDS
Sparrow Medal – Under 19s Best and Fairest: Jordan Letts (Dingley)/Zac Vaughan (Cheltenham)
Thirds Superboot award – Most goals: Matthew Bennie (Sandown) (44 goals)
Division 2 reserve best and fairest: Shaun Semmens (Doveton)
Division 2 reserve Superboot award – Most goals: Yianni Billias (Doveton) (52 goals)
Division 1 reserve best and fairest: David Cowell (Dingley)
Division 1 reserve Superboot – Most goals: Paul De La Roche (Cranbourne) (72 goals)
