By David Nagel
Over the Christmas period, the News’ sports team will be re-sharing some of the most popular stories from over the course of 2024.
Thank you for supporting our newspapers over the course of the year. We hope you enjoy the selection and have a wonderful holiday period, however you choose to celebrate.
There’s a fair chance that Trent Armour and Jimmy Munro wouldn’t be too happy with each other as teammates if the 2024 WGFNC Team of the Year (TOTY) ever got to experience the opening bounce of a contest.
Ruck Billy Thomas would win the tap, with league best and fairest winner Hayden Bruce ready for the receive; while the two most ferocious midfielders in the WGFNC went on the hunt for the Sherrin.
Heads and bodies would collide; eyes only for the ball, with Armour and Munro the masters of never taking a backward step.
The elite starting midfield, of Thomas, Armour, Bruce and Munro; is just one of the many key features of a magnificently-talented crop of superstars that would represent the league with pride.
Bruce, Armour and Munro; in that order, finished top three in the league best and fairest this season.
The best midfielders in the three best teams of the year; their collective impact has been astounding.
Armour, the first player to earn six TOTY guernseys, is a well-deserved captain of this year’s team, with his bull-at-a-gate mentality, and elite skills by hand and foot, earning him the admiration of players, coaches and supporters from right across the league.
Munro is one of 13 first-time selections in the TOTY, with his Cora Lynn teammates Luke Black and Luke Hartley also part of that group.
Black has been the outstanding full-back of the season, while Hartley’s ability to play his forward-midfield role to perfection had a huge impact on the Cobras winning the minor premiership this year.
Former AFL star Matt Buntine earns a first gong from Tooradin-Dalmore, with his experience so important in a team that blooded youngsters for fun this season.
Intercept-marking machine James Cairns and his quick-thinking teammate Harrison Brain earn first-time selections from Nar Nar Goon, while midfielder Charlie Bruce and half-forward Billy Taylor have had terrific seasons for grand final contender Phillip Island.
Defender Luke Johnson had a great first-season with Inverloch-Kongwak, while the goal-sense of Anthony Daraio helped Kilcunda-Bass make its first finals series in the WGFNC this year.
From teams outside the top six, Dalyston coach Mitch Hallahan gets selected for his strength and toughness through the midfield, while undersized Garfield key-position player Zac Soutar finally gets rewarded for his consistent play for the Stars.
Young Korumburra-Bena gun Kye Benson just edged out his coach Josh Hopkins for the last spot on the interchange bench, with both carrying the load in a tough season for the Giants.
On the flip-side of the first-timers, some familiar faces added to already proven track records.
Cora Lynn champion Nathan Gardiner earned his fifth-consecutive selection at full-forward, while Kooweerup’s Nathan Voss, Phillip Island’s Jack Taylor and Inverloch-Kongwak stalwart Lewis Rankin joined a very exclusive club; being four-time members of the team.
Kilcunda-Bass ruck Dale Gawley and Tooradin-Dalmore midfielder Lewis Hill made it three selections on the trot, while Adam Oxley and Lachie Peluso join Thomas in earning their second TOTY guernseys.
And the coach this year: Cora Lynn’s Shaun Sparks, has the most unique record of all.
He becomes the first person to earn separate selections as a player, then as a coach.
Sparks was picked in the back pocket in 2018 and now earns his second selection as the off-field leader of the team.
As usual, several players were unlucky to miss, headlined by Nathan Foote, Alex Dijkstra, Max Walton, Ethan Park, Josh Hopkins, Jesse Patullo, Nick Baltas, Brad Butler, Piva Wright, Travis Tuck, Jaymie Youle and Kyle Beveridge.
Stars of the competition in Dermott Yawney, Paul Pattison, Jarrod Smith, Marcus Toussaint and Kuiy Jiath were deemed ineligible having not participated in the minimum requirement of 14 games.
A total of 110 players and coaches have now been selected in the TOTY since the WGFNC began in 2017.
2024 WGFNC FOOTBALL TEAM OF THE YEAR
BACKS
Lachlyn Peluso (Cora Lynn) – Luke Black (Cora Lynn) – Luke Johnson (Inverloch-Kongwak)
HALF BACKS
Adam Oxley (Tooradin-Dalmore) – James Cairns (Nar Nar Goon) – Lewis Rankin (Inverloch-Kongwak)
CENTRES
Matthew Buntine (Tooradin-Dalmore) – Trent Armour (Nar Nar Goon – C) – Harrison Brain (Nar Nar Goon)
HALF FORWARDS
Billy Taylor (Phillip Island) – Jack Taylor (Phillip Island – VC) – Luke Hartley (Cora Lynn)
FORWARDS
Mitch Hallahan (Dalyston) – Nathan Gardiner (Cora Lynn) – Anthony Daraio (Kilcunda-Bass)
RUCKS
Billy Thomas (Cora Lynn) – Jimmy Munro (Cora Lynn) – Hayden Bruce (Phillip Island)
INTERCHANGE
Charlie Bruce (Phillip Island)
Dale Gawley (Kilcunda-Bass)
Lewis Hill (Tooradin-Dalmore)
Nathan Voss (Kooweerup)
Zac Soutar (Garfield)
Kye Benson (Korumburra-Bena)
COACH
Shaun Sparks (Cora Lynn)
