Farrell wins third medal

by Davyd Reid
Trafalgar's Dylan Farrell has won a third Alf Walton medal for best and fairest in Ellinbank District football, while Lang Lang's Jesse Hand went back-to-back in the reserves count.
Farrell entered the count, held last Monday at Logan Park, as a heavy favourite given Neerim-Neerim South midfielder Kody Wilson was ineligible due to a suspension.
In what would have otherwise been an entertaining count, Farrell and Wilson traded the lead before a dominant end to the season saw the Trafalgar ruck pull away late.
Longwarry's Jedd Serong had a strong start to the season, polling eight votes to hold the lead at the end of round three.
Best afield efforts from Farrell in rounds one, three and four saw him take the lead.
Wilson got his season moving with best afield efforts in rounds three and four, with Catani's James Williams also in touch.
At the conclusion of round six, Farrell with 11 votes had a narrow lead over Wilson and Serong on nine votes. From there, Farrell and Wilson separated from the remainder of the field, effectively making the result a fait accompli given Wilson's ineligibility.
A consistent run of two vote games saw Wilson on 16 and Farrell on 15 at the conclusion of round nine.
A best on field effort in round 11 saw Wilson move four points clear, Farrell with a best afield effort in round 14 closing the gap.
Both had best afield efforts in round 15 before Farrell ran away with it, securing the three votes in rounds 17 and 18 to finish first outright on 32 votes.
Wilson found some solace in taking out the most valuable player award as voted by the coaches, polling 45 votes.
Eight best on ground efforts between rounds eight and 16 saw Lang Lang's Jesse hand secure the Gerard Heenan medal with two rounds to play.
Teammate Nathan Perkins was among the players to challenge early before Hand commenced his dominant stretch. Hand would poll three votes again in round 17 to finish well clear of runner up Angus Young.
Leading goal kickers were Tyler Guan of Lang Lang in the reserves, with a tie between Neerim-Neerim South's Kai Mounsey and Longwarry's Jedd Serong in the seniors.
Rylan Butler from Nilma-Darnum won the Arthur Pollard award for most votes by a junior in the senior vote count.
At the junior vote, it was a three-way tie in the under 16s and a two-way tie in the under 18s.
Equal best and fairest winners for the under 16 Ian Cooper Medal included Corey Smith of Yarragon, Thomas Wells of Bunyip and Kade Zealley from Poowong.
In the under 18s, it was a two way battle until the end for the Bill Cumming Medal with Blake Meggetto of Nilma Darnum and Wesley Scott of Trafalgar taking out top honours.
Buln Buln took out most disciplined club, while Longwarry won another community club of the year award.
Buln Buln took out the football club championship, with Bunyip securing the overall club championship for football and netball combined.