Tongala will boast the 2021 O’Dwyer Medallist when they hit the field for the first time next season, with midfielder Coby McCarthy taking out the prestigious O’Dwyer Medal.
McCarthy took out the league’s highest individual honour with 19 votes, pipping reigning O’Dwyer Medallist Jackson Gash by two votes in a thrilling count.
The Blues midfielder polled in seven of a possible 13 games played this season, claiming maximum votes in five of those.
Four consecutive best-on-ground showings saw McCarthy streak away from the pack, before claiming the necessary two votes needed to break the tie between himself and Gash in the final round against Numurkah.
Featuring 12 times for the Blues in 2021, he booted 17 goals out of the Tongala midfield as they went undefeated through the season.
McCarthy’s win means he has the distinction of being Tongala’s first league medallist in 13 years, and just the second in the clubs Murray Football League history; Daryl Harrison in 2008 being the Blues other winner.
Deniliquin forward Todd Gallagher (12) rounded out the top three of the medal count, while Numurkah young gun Rhys Cason was recognised for a strong season with the league Rising Star award.
In A-grade netball, Emily Taverna once again stood head and shoulders above the competition, capping off a tremendous 2021 season.
Moama’s mid-court stalwart claimed the Murray Netball League’s best and fairest accolade with 25 votes ahead of Nathalia’s Tegan Sutton (19), while Finley’s Ruby Russell was judged MVP.
It’s another off-season accolade in the trophy cabinet for Taverna, who was also a comfortable winner of Moama’s best and fairest.
It bookends a stellar career at the Pies for the 200-gamer, who is relocating to Melbourne.
Carri Carter was another Mower to back up a club best and fairest with a league edition.
Carter polled 19 votes in the B-grade vote count to take honours and claim the club/league double alongside Taverna.
The Damien Jones medal vote count saw a runaway winner, with Nicholas Woods of Tongala completing the Blues best and fairest double with the Reserve football best and fairest.
He claimed the award with 29 votes — runner-up Logan Ives (Deniliquin) was a distant second with 12.
Caleb Mitchell (Mulwala) won the under-17 best and fairest with 22 votes, ahead of Cobram’s Jack Beasley, who polled 16.
Another Blue polled highest for Tongala in the under 14 count, with Hudson Kellett cementing the three-peat for his club with 26 votes, just one ahead of runner-up Angus Hay (Finley).
The Blues had another winner in C-grade netball through Ashlee Watson, who polled 22 votes. Moama’s Trinity Keath was runner-up on 15.
Amber Farley (Deniliquin) was the C-reserve winner on 12 votes — Numurkah’s Peta Gowans was a close runner-up.
Deni’s Chloe Way won the under-17 netball with 17 votes, three ahead of runner-up Maya Kellett.
Under-15 netball honours went the way of Mulwala’s Kaleisha Pell (27 votes), while Moama’s Coby Morgan stepped up as the third Pies netballer to club dual club and league honours in the under-13s.
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