Great Northern Football League: Rovers hang on Jamie Koric’s travel plans

A crayboat owner could hold the key to Rovers’ chances of going one step further in the Great Northern Football League next year.

The reigning JJ Clune Medallist and club champion (Penament/Bursill Medal) Jamie Koric is planning an around-Australia trip, but it all depends on him getting six months off.

Koric, 26, the centre/centre-half-forward star, is a deckhand on a crayboat.

“I’d love to travel, but I need the time off. It’s up to the boss,” he said.

One imagines only one club will be hoping “the boss” knocks back Koric’s request for a break.

Koric has had two years with Rovers, after crossing from the North Midlands league. He is a close friend of the Comben family.

Ian Comben coaches Rovers.

Koric said he was “below his best” in the recent grand final, in which Rovers went down to Brigades by 13 points.

“I didn’t play my best and nor did the team,” Koric said.

“Yes, I’d love to swap the two best and fairests for a premiership medal.”

However, he is happy about one thing — winning the JJ Clune outright.

“I beat Josh Simpson (Brigades) by a couple of votes,” he said.

“He had been suspended and couldn’t win, but it would have been a bit awkward if he polled the most votes.”

In other GNFL news, Brad Cooper won the Brigades fairest and best medal, named after well-known family member Phil Cooper.

Ashley Gray was voted the fairest and best player and took home the ‘Digger’ Cooper Medal at Chapman Valley. Another JJ Clune medallist, Kristian Papertalk has won another fairest and best award at Mullewa, while Tyler Hall won the Phil Carson medal at Northampton.

Finalists Railways and Towns had their fairest and best counts on Saturday night. Mitch Boyle won the Stan Cross Medal for the fairest and best at the Blues.

Boyle also beat Ben Saunders to win the league players’ award. “To be recognised by your peers is special,” Boyle said.

Teammate Dylan Prater (150 games) and long-time former president Dennis Gilleland were awarded life memberships.

At Towns, Liam Carlyon romped away with the VT Clune Medal. The Bulldogs also presented life memberships to Alan Headland Sr and Stuart Gaby (150 games).