The Pearce Medal is heading to Strathmerton following last night’s Picola District Football Netball League presentation night.
Star Bulldogs on-baller Jake Ellery was recognised for his outstanding season and claimed his maiden Pearce Medal ahead of last year’s winner Ash Holland.
Ellery (27 votes) pipped the gun Waaia ruckman by three votes in a thrilling senior best-and-fairest vote count at Moama.
Leading by one ahead of the final round of votes, the Bulldogs’ skilful midfielder polled a best-on-ground three votes in the round 18 win over Katunga to seal his memorable triumph.
Ellery’s maiden league best-and-fairest comes 12 months on from finishing fourth in last year’s Pearce Medal count.
Ellery will be hoping to add a premiership medal to his recent haul on Saturday in the grand final clash ― where he will meet Holland’s Bombers.
The Waaia big man didn’t go home empty handed and claimed the MVP award.
Holland finished runner-up ahead of Rennie’s Cameron Sudholz (22 votes), Katunga’s Cameron Bishop (21), Tungamah’s Sean Johns (19) and Katandra’s Luke Smith (16).
Deniliquin Rovers’ Chrissy Hurst claimed the A-grade netball’s top gong in a runaway vote count.
Hurst finished on 28 votes, eight ahead of Starthmerton playing coach Olivia Osborne (20), to claim the prized Lukies Medal.
Like Ellery, Hurst will be out to add a premiership medal in this weekend’s A-grade decider against Katandra.
The league also recognised a host of other award winners on the night.
The Rising Star awards went to two Strathmerton young guns.
A-grade talent Caitlyn Brooks and classy ball user Josh Payne clinched the netball and football awards respectively.
Outgoing Katunga coach Damien Kennedy was awarded the senior football Coach of the Year, while Yarroweyah’s Bek Jones took home the netball Coach of the Year honours.
There was a tie in the reserves vote count, with Strathmerton’s Zeke Bunge and Tungamah’s Travis Hayes joint winners of the McKenzie Medal.
The duo finished the count on 17 votes each.
Deniliquin’s Jackie Thorpe claimed the B-grade medal, while Waaia’s Andrea Walker and Berrigan’s Paula Gowans went home with the C-reserve and C-grade medals respectively.