Jones, Hemphill named Moore, Zachariah Medallists

Chad Jones capped off a magnificent return to football by winning the GT Moore Medal as the best and fairest in Premier B last night.

Jones, who came out of retirement this season, kicked 101 goals from 15 games throughout the home and away season and polled 29 to run away from Old Carey’s Kristian Jaksch on 20. 24 of Jones’ 29 votes came from BOG three-vote performances and he polled in eight of the last 10 games.

Jaksch was unstoppable in the first half of the season, polling his 20 votes in every one of the first eight games before being struck down by injury. Big V B-D4 captain and Caulfield co-captain, Tim Nixon, came home strong with 11 votes in last five rounds to finish third on 19. Sam Cust (Old Carey) starred off half-back and was justly rewarded with 16 votes ahead of Josh Steadman (Uni Blacks) and Nick Lewis (Ajax) on 15.

Earlier in the evening, Williamstown CYMS midfielder Yuma Hemphill was named the 2018 Lou Zachariah Medallist after polling 22 votes in Premier C.

Three votes against Fitzroy in Round 17 capped off a sensational count for Hemphill as he finished two votes clear of former Roys skipper and GT Moore Medallist Rory Angiolella on 20. Sam Anderson (Old Geelong) and Justin Powick (Old Ivanhoe) each polled 15 to finish equal-third.

Hemphill and Jones’ victories made it five from six winners across the two nights who are still in the running to take home premierships in their respective sections.