Who has been crowned the kings and queens of their respective Goulburn Valley League clubs?
The region’s football and netball seasons wrapped up a little more than a month ago and already new signings and departures are rolling through the league rumour mill.
However, before we look ahead to season 2025, let’s stop and celebrate this year’s stars of senior football and A-grade netball.
Here is who won the best-and-fairest awards for the 2024 season across the 12 Goulburn Valley League clubs.
Benalla
Senior: Mark Marriott
A-grade: Bridget Hill
Benalla’s star ruck Mark Marriott dominated for the Saints all season and was a deserved winner of their best-and-fairest award.
Marriott and runner-up best-and-fairest winner Chris Welsh were the Saints’ two standouts and helped guide Benalla’s inexperienced side to a number of impressive performances.
On the A-grade front, star goal attack Bridget Hill took home the side’s best-and-fairest in front of attacker-defender utility Ella Sheehan.
Echuca
Senior: Jack McHale
A-grade: Ashlea Mangan
Picking Echuca’s best-and-fairest player this season would have been like choosing a favourite child.
However, the Murray Bombers did pick one and Jack McHale was a thoroughly deserving winner kicking 17 goals and featuring in the best 16 times in 21 games.
Veteran Kane Morris was in second place.
Star defender Ashlea Mangan claimed the Murray Bombers’ A-grade best-and-fairest after an impressive season, with fellow defender Lauren Jones coming runner-up — both great efforts in a grand final year.
Euroa
Senior: Jett Trotter
A-grade: Hollie Reid
Euroa’s senior football season may have ended in a first-round finals exit, but the Magpies had some star power stand up throughout the year.
Forward-midfielder Jett Trotter took home the best-and-fairest, followed by star and VFL player Will Hayes.
Hollie Reid took home what every player dreams of: an A-grade best-and-fairest award in a premiership season.
Reid and runner-up Olivia Morris were instrumental in Euroa’s grand final victory over Echuca.
Kyabram
Senior: Liam Ogden
A-grade: Isla Carver
Kyabram’s beloved midfielder Liam Ogden claimed this season’s best-and-fairest award, in front of ruck Marcus Khoo.
Ogden received plaudits from his coaches week-in week-out for his tireless work in the trenches.
Meanwhile, Isla Carver claimed the A-grade best-and-fairest ahead of wing attack Abby Waasdorp.
Mansfield
Senior: Brett Mahoney
A-grade: Darcy Croxford-Demasi
Mansfield’s season started out strong, but fell away through player injuries and its stars featuring in the VFL.
One consistency throughout the year was the impact and class of veteran Brett Mahoney through the midfield.
Mahoney claimed the senior best-and-fairest ahead of runners-up Jayden Howes and Billy Hogan.
In A-grade, star Eagle Darcy Croxford-Demasi claimed the best-and-fairest for her efforts through goal and wing defence.
Mooroopna
Senior: Keelin Betson
A-grade: Dayna Williams and Mia Fallon
When star ruck Liam Betson departed Mooroopna last off-season the Cats were left scrounging for a powerful big man.
However, John Lamont didn’t have to look far as Betson’s brother Keelin dominated for the Cats in 2024 as their primary ruck.
Betson won Mooroopna’s 2024 best-and-fairest award ahead of midfielder Jed Woods.
Mooroopna’s A-grade side was a strong force this season, but ultimately fell short in the preliminary final.
Star defender Dayna Williams and gun centre Mia Fallon tied for the best-and-fairest.
Rochester
Senior: Mitch Trewhella
A-grade: Tia Webb
Rochester defied expectations and reached a preliminary final this season and star midfielder Mitch Trewhella was a key reason for that.
Trewhella took home the Tigers’ best-and-fairest ahead of star recruit Ryan O’Keefe.
Goal shooter Tia Webb claimed the A-grade best-and-fairest ahead of Bridgette McCarty.
Seymour
Senior: Nathan Beattie
A-grade: Ellie Fuhrmeister
Midfielder-winger Nathan Beattie won Seymour’s best-and-fairest.
Beattie averaged over 32 disposals a game and was a shining light for the Lions in a tough season.
Meanwhile, Ellie Fuhrmeister claimed the A-grade best-and-fairest for the Lions, alongside a top-10 finish in the Wellman Medal and interleague honours.
Shepparton
Senior: Ash Holland
A-grade: Kim Borger
Despite the disappointing finish to the season — a thumping grand final loss —Shepparton’s year was a major success.
One of the keys to the Bears’ rise was the return of star ruck Ash Holland who claimed the side’s best-and-fairest award and the Morrison Medal.
On the netball court, Kim Borger — newly announced coach of the A-grade side — claimed the best-and-fairest and the Wellman Medal.
Young star Mackenzie O’Dwyer came runner-up in the Bears’ best-and-fairest.
Shepparton Swans
Senior: Mark Kovacevic
A-grade: Natasha Atkinson-Brown
The Goulburn Valley Football League was filled with dominant big men and, yet, Shepparton Swans’ Mark Kovacevic still stood tall.
The Swans’ ruck won the side’s best-and-fairest ahead of veteran defender Andrew Riordan.
Meanwhile, goaler Natasha Atkinson-Brown claimed the A-grade best-and-fairest ahead of tied runners-up Sophie Garner and Harriet Gall.
Shepparton United
Senior: Jesse Cucinotta
A-grade: Laura Cole
Shepparton United’s player-coach for 2025 Jesse Cucinotta did his credentials no harm as he claimed the side’s best-and-fairest award ahead of runner-up Joel Serra.
United A-grade player-coach Laura Cole claimed the best-and-fairest award ahead of Shinea Sali.
Cole will be leaving the Demons during the off-season to play for Nathalia in the Murray Netball League.
Tatura
Senior: Mitch Elliott
A-grade: Elsie Boyer
Tatura’s senior football side took a battering in terms of injury in 2024 and the results reflected that.
Through the darkness a number of players kept their nose to the grindstone such as midfielder Mitch Elliott who won the best-and-fairest and gun ruck Jacob Simpson who came runner-up.
A-grade player-coach Elsie Boyer took home the best-and-fairest for the Bulldogs, ahead of Molly Boyle.