Angiolella crowned GT Moore Medallist as seven best & fairest awards are announced

The VAFA would like to congratulate seven award winners who were announced as the best and fairest players in their respective sections on 96.5 Inner FM earlier tonight.

Rory Angiolella of Fitzroy was crowned the GT Moore Medallist in Premier B, while Old Ivanhoe Grammarians’ Carl Groth came away with the Zachariah Medal in Premier C after playing just seven matches for the season.

Angiolella dominated his count, polling seven three’s on his way to 26 votes for the season. After failing to poll in the first two rounds, the Fitzroy star went on to rake in 16 votes in the ensuing seven rounds; ultimately creating an unattainable buffer for those chasing. St Kevin’s Steven Salopek was the nearest rival, polling six best-on-grounds among his 20 votes. Simon Richards rounded out the top three, with the St Bedes/Mentone Tigers champion polling 16 votes.

Earlier in the night, Old Ivanhoe Grammarians midfielder, Carl Groth, did what many would argue is one of the greatest triumphs in recent VAFA history. Winning his vote count on 19, Groth polled in just seven matches as injury prevented him playing any more matches. On 16 votes after Round 6, Groth did not poll again until Round 18, where he finished the count with a best-on-ground performance in his return from injury. Monash Blues’ Maddison Hardiman polled consistently throughout to finish runner-up on 15 votes, while Nicholas Ebinger of Williamstown CYMS and Aaron Cloke of Oakleigh tied for third spot on 13.

Throughout the two-hour broadcast, the five Unders division winners were announced, with Esubalew Ramsay of UHS-VU taking out the Colts Medal and Beaumaris’ Andrew Watson claiming victory by seven votes in the U19 Section 4 category.

Ryan Fogarty of Hampton Rovers polled 26 votes to win the I.A. Brown Medal for U19 Section 3, while Fitzroy’s Max Davie capped off a successful night for the club as he claimed the G.W. McTaggart Medal as the best and fairest in U19 Section 2.

It was a seven-vote victory in the U19 Premier C.R. Newbury Medal race as St Kevin’s young gun, Roland De Biase, proved he is one to watch in the future by taking out the coveted medallion.

The VAFA congratulates all winners on their efforts and wishes all those participating in this weekend’s finals the best of luck.