Riley Smith took out best and fairest honours at Tongala’s presentation night.
Tongala named its top grade best-and-fairest winners for 2026 at its presentation night last week.
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Riley Smith won the senior football award after a strong season.
He kicked 17 goals in 20 games and made the best players 13 times.
The midfielder joined the Blues from Echuca in the off-season.
His impact was shown in being named in the Murray League’s team of the year, along with the side returning to finals for the first time since 2022.
Tongala president Daniel Cox said Smith “clearly” had the most consistent year among all players.
“Riley’s had a great year and is just a Rolls-Royce for us,” he said.
“He's so clean and smooth, and if I had to pick someone before the night, I would have assumed Smiddy would be up there.”
Smith didn’t win by a landslide but had a comfortable cushion in the end from Joe Guiney.
Jack Hammond polled well, which was expected after doing so for the league best-and-fairest and also making the competition-wide team of the year.
In A-grade netball, there were no surprises as Hollie Reid won, adding the accolade to her league best-and-fairest.
Cox said Reid won “quite convincingly” as she polled plenty of votes towards the end of the season.
The centre returned to the Blues in the off-season, her junior club.
She played 21 of 22 games as Tongala made it all the way to the grand final.
“It was a slow start to the year for the A-grade girls,” Cox said.
“With a few fresh faces it took a bit of time for them to gel, but Hollie was brilliant.
“She's obviously had a very good year.”
Hollie Reid was an expected winner of Tongala’s A-grade best and fairest.
Other winners on the night included Angus Harrington being the reserves best-and-fairest.
He had a solid year with 10 goals and nine best players honours in 17 games.
Harrington winning could be seen as a bit of a shock, given Todd Van Roy was the runner-up for the league medal.
Meanwhile, goaler Meg Brennan won the B-grade netball best-and-fairest, with Sienna Johnstone the runner-up.
Brennan’s dominance in the goal circle this year was almost difficult to believe, with her 916 goals a whopping 291 ahead of the league’s next best.
It’s been an unlucky period for Johnstone, though, as she also placed second for the league accolade.
The B-grade Blues were one of four Tongala sides that won a premiership this year.
The netball program continues to produce plenty of success, which Cox has become used to seeing.
“I’ve been involved in the club for nearly 30 years and netball’s always been successful, even when we were in the GVL,” he said.
“Since we’ve come over to the Murray League we’ve always been there or thereabouts as a top two side.
“Now with the supporting senior grades, the last 10 years have been phenomenal for the club with really good junior programs and numbers for such a small town.”
Meanwhile, the positive reflection on the netball season also translated to football.
Cox said Jordan Souter’s senior Blues “probably exceeded expectations” in progressing all the way to the semi-finals.
The president doesn’t want to see any backwards steps in 2027, and with all leagues now concluded, Tongala’s off-season list planning has begun.
“We’ll keep most of the senior list,” Cox said.
“We may lose one or two, but we’ve added a couple to it already.
“This week we should find out answers on some more, trying to get a few boys back.
“There’s a key aim on trying to get a lot of players who have played here before, not just because of player points, but also because they know what the club’s about.”
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