HDFNL: Phillips, Bolton win league best and fairest awards

Ruckman Phillips was rewarded for a standout season with the Cats, polling 18 votes to win the Cheatley Medal in senior football.

White Hills' playing coach Sam Kerridge was just one vote back on 17. Colbo's Lochlan Sirrett was third on 15 votes.

It's the second season in a row Kerridge has finished runner-up in the Cheatley Medal.

In 2019 he finished two votes behind winner Joel Helman, while Phillips was one vote further back in third place that season.

Phillips dominated the ruck for the Cats this year and, in a star-studded team, was in the Cats' top four players five times in the 12 games he played.

It was a similar tale for Kerridge, who was named best for the Demons in four of his 12 matches.

Phillips is just the third LBU player to win the Cheatley Medal behind Michale Dobson in 2002 and Adrian Dohnt in 2010.

Bolton's Saints only won four games in 2021, but her consistency in the midcourt earned her 20 votes and the Esther Cheatley Medal in A-grade netball.

The former Sandhurst centre led from the front for the Saints and her tireless work rate helped the Saints to their best record in more than seven years.

Colbinabbin's Olivia McEvoy was runner-up on 18 votes - two behind Bolton.

McEvoy's runner-up award capped a memorable year after she was awarded HDFNL life membership.

HDFNL award winners:

15-and-under netball

Winner - Remy Cowan (Elmore) 23 votes. Runner-up - Elyssa Amor-Atkinson (North Bendigo) 16 votes.

17-and-under netball

Winner - Maddison Elliott (Leitchville-Gunbower) 25 votes. Runner-up - Emily Jones (Elmore) 23 votes.

B-reserve netball

Winner - Madison Cliff (Elmore) 31 votes. Runner-up - Bronte Bowles (White Hills) 19 votes.

B-grade - netball

Winner - Kealy Tupper (Mount Pleasant) 1.40 ratio. Runner-up - Caitlin McQueen (White Hills) 1.38 ratio.

A-reserve netball

Winner - Sophie Alford (North Bendigo) 22 votes. Runner up - Maeve Tupper (Mount Pleasant) 14 votes.

A-grade netball, Esther Cheatley Medal

Winner - Brooke Bolton (Heathcote) 20 votes. Runner-up - Olivia McEvoy 18 votes.

Under-18 football, David Roulston Medal

Winner - Victor Butler (Heathcote) 28 votes. Runner-up - Harry Wright (Leitchville-Gunbower) 13 votes.

Reserves football, Tom Morgan Medal

Winner - Jackson Hufer (Mount Pleasant) 14 votes. Runner-up - Taylor Smart (Huntly) 11 votes.

Senior football, Sam Cheatley Medal

Winner - Tyler Phillips (LBU) 18 votes. Runner-up - Sam Kerridge (White Hills) 17 votes.

HDFNL Rising Star awards

Football - Mitch Cricelli (Elmore). Netball - Cayde Hayes (Elmore).

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