Gash polled 23 votes for the season to claim his second O’Dwyer Medal ahead of Nathalia’s Bailey Bell, who received two votes in the final round for a total of 22 votes.
However, the night was not without controversy, as Numurkah’s Jamason Daniels finished 10 clear of the field to top the count, but was ineligible to claim the award due to suspension.
Polling 33 votes for the season, including seven best-on-ground performances, Daniels was already leading the count after round nine, before going on a remarkable tear to record 20 votes between round 10 and round 20.
Bell’s teammate Brodie Ross, the 2022 co-medallist, flew home to finish two votes behind Gash.
Moama’s Jobe Shanahan was also recognised for his fine year, taking out the competition’s rising star award.
In the reserves count, Moama’s Fraser Buchanan won the Damien Jones Medal with 16 votes, one clear of Mulwala’s Sean Robinson.
Rhiannan Maxwell was crowned the Murray Netball League’s A-grade best-and-fairest after an outstanding year with Deniliquin.
Maxwell was the spearhead for the Rams as they delivered an undefeated home-and-away season, polling 32 votes to finish five clear on top.
Moama’s Charlotte Sheldon capped a solid year by polling 27 votes to finish second alongside Congupna’s Morgan Zotti, who was also runner-up in the 2022 count.
The Magpies had multiple award winners in the junior ranks, as Abby Larkin clinched the under-17 best-and-fairest award by a single vote from Tahlia Pate (Cobram), while Coby Morgan shared the under-15 gong with Rumbalara’s L’val Turner.
Fred Peat won the under-14 football best-and-fairest with 36 votes, one clear of Van Kreeck (Mulwala).
Moama also made it a three-peat of champion club awards, adding to its triumphs in 2021 and 2022.
