Sport
11 September, 2024
Jai Thompson and Brooke Pay honoured as the 2024 HDFNL best and fairest
HDFNL awards 2024 Dellar Medal and Michelle Mibus Medal
The Horsham District Football and Netball League gathered at Horsham's Coughlin Park on Monday, September 9, to conduct the league's senior votecount and celebrate the 2024 season's top players.
Harrow Balmoral's playing coach Jai Thompson was awarded the 2024 Dellar Medal for the senior football grade's best and fairest.
Thompson, who polled 23 votes, played his second season of HDFNL football in 2024 after moving to Harrow Balmoral from Leopold in the Barwon FNL for the 2023 season.
Thompson said it 'feels good' to receive the coveted award.
"I put a lot of work into footy [on the] coaching side of things, as well as playing, and the recognition is great," he said.
After a strong season with the Southern Roos, Thompson was tipped by many as a favourite to win the medal.
"Plenty of people told me they thought I was a chance, but I've been to these things before, and I've never really done very well on them, I honestly didn't put myself too high up there," he said.
Thompson believes his second year in Harrow Balmoral's coaching position has allowed him to play better football in 2024.
"I think the first year, [you] concentrate a lot more on your coaching side of things, and you forget about your playing a little bit," he said.
"The second year, you feel more comfortable, you know your roles, and you can concentrate on actually playing football a bit more.
Rupanyup's Bill Hansen claimed the runners-up medal with 21 votes.
Noah Stirling from Swifts was awarded the league's best under 21 player, while his teammate Paul Summers accepted the leading goal scorer medal, with 115 goals through the season.
Thompson was also presented the best opposition award.
Noradjuha Quantong's Brooke Pay won the Michelle Mibus Medal for the A grade netball's best and fairest.
Pay is a stalwart of the Noradjuha Quantong Football Netball Club and on Monday accepted her second league best and fairest.
Pay see's her strong 2024 season as a return to her peak.
"I had an ACL [reconstruction] five years ago, and then fell pregnant, and in that time I've had two babies," she said.
"[Through that] your body changes a lot, and I've had to work really hard in the off season, and there's actually been times where I thought I might not play netball again.
"But, I've been able to turn that around, work really hard and here we are today, I'm actually blown away."
Pay, who is yet to win a premiership in the HDFNL said a mid-season change in the way she was approaching her netball was what allowed her to play so strongly this season.
"There's a lot of mental worry and thoughts around getting that premiership, and I think mid season, I just went, we need to let that one go and just get out there and enjoy the netball," she said.
Pay polled 25 votes to claim the medal while her Bombers teammate Holly Nuske tied with Kaniva Leeor United's Nikki Hawker for runners-up with 24 votes each.
Laharum's Caitlin Jones-Story won the league's leading goal shooter award and best opposition player, while Natimuk United's Emma Uebergang was awarded the best under 21 player.
In the Reserve football grade, Noradjuha Quantong's Colby Wilde and Swifts' Mathew Tober tied for best and fairest, with the Bombers' Thomas East as runner-up and the Baggies' Adam Leslie as leading goal kicker.
In the B grade netball, Swifts' Erin Freeland earned the best and fairest medal, with Pimpinio's Ava Fitzgerald as runner-up and Natimuk United's Codi-Rae Fisher as leading goal shooter.
Edenhope Apsley's Danielle Grindlay won the C grade best and fairest ahead of Natimuk United's Mary-Jean Kerr With Kalkee's Emma Bigham the grade's leading shooter.
Kalkee's Sophie Pietsch won the C reserve best and fairest and leading shooter with Natimuk United's Erica Blake as runner-up.