GNFL season officially comes to a close as clubs wrap up awards nights

Local clubs have officially brought the 2022 GNFL season to a close as the clubs finished up their awards nights recognising their best and fairest.

Northampton’s closer was on September 23 and the PA Carson Medal was won by Flynn Dillon with 2021 winner Beau Walker second. Mikenna Schultz was the best women’s player.

Such was the dominance of Dillon this year that he won the award in spite of the fact he did not play out the season after breaking his leg in round 11 and playing just 10 games.

But in that time he amassed 28 JJ Clune votes and it remains a great what if had he stayed on the park.

Schultz won six straight best player nominations to start her year and while she faced a late challenge from Asha Poletti is a deserving winner.

Railways bid their season adieu on October 1 and the Stan Cross Medal went to Jesse Adamini with four-time winner Mitch Boyle second while Jasmine Johansen was the best women’s player.

Adamini was arguably the favourite to win the JJ Clune but finished a surprising third. However, his outstanding season of 11 best-player nominations in 15 games to go with 41 goals was recognised by the club.

No surprises for Johansen as the country week all-star was by far and away their best player this season.

Mullewa closed out on October 8 and it was a family affair as Kristian Papertalk claimed the Gus Mourish Medal and for the fifth time with other wins in 2011, 2014, 2018 and 2019. Only Darryn Tunbridge with six wins has more.

Papertalk’s brother Leedham won in 2015 and 2016. Azaria Papertalk, Leedham’s daughter (and Mick Wall’s granddaughter) was best woman.

Towns gave 2022 closed out on October 15 and the VT Clune Medal went to a great servant in good times and bad in Rohan Fariss. He also won in 2015, 2019 and 2020.

Fariss joins Michael Page as a four-time champion and only Liam Carlyon with six wins has more though Trevor Monger was a seven-time best before the GNFL was founded.

Runner-up was Paydn Mason while women’s best was the joint women’s footballer of the year Olivia Bidwell.

It follows awards nights from earlier in the season when Gabriel Parfitt won the Penniment/Bursill denying Christ Scott a sweep of Clune, Guardian and club medals

As his brother Clayton won in 2013 and 2015, the Parfitts are the second pair of brother winners for Rovers joining Darren and Bob Ryan, who also won thrice between them, while Abby Green was best women’s player.

Chapman Valley’s LP Cooper Medal for league best went to Ringo McKenna with Lee Hutchins runner-up. Tayah Palmer was best women’s player.

Brigades also partied on September 23 and the PG Cooper Medal went to Kim Schofield from Klay Sipila. Jessica Giudice-Nairn was named the best women’s player.

Jayden Schofield won in 2021 and the Schofields are Brigades’ first brotherly winners.