VAFA Awards Night #1: D1-4, U19s, U23s Winners

The first cohort of 2021 VAFA Best & Fairest winners were revealed on a three-hour RSN Carnival extravaganza last night, with the best of the best from the Divisions, Holmesglen U19s and U23s recognised for their outstanding seasons.

Riley Verbi (Old Camberwell) and Clare Fernandes (Whitefriars) took out the Division 1 gongs, with Verbi polling 18 votes from the first six rounds of the season. Fernandes, who polled more votes than any other player on the night, adds to her Division 2 Best & Fairest Award from 2019.

In just his first year at Ivanhoe AFC and as a spritely 39yo, former VFL player, Wayne Schultz, claimed the Fullerton Medal, while his counterpart in the women’s competition, Charlotte Ferrier, polled five 3’s to win on 15 votes.

It was another addition to the trophy cabinet for both Justin Raiti (Hawthorn AFC) and Madison Lister (Glen Eira) as they both claimed their second competition B&F with the 2021 Division 3 gongs. Raiti, who was senior captain for the minor premiers, took the coaching reins when the club was in need earlier in the season prior to Mark Murray’s appointment. As for Lister, the 200-game women’s football stalwart adds to her 2019 haul of a B&F, premiership medal and best-on-ground medal.

Division 4 Women’s brought about the only dual winners on the night, with Johannah Griffin (Albert Park) and Emily Rayment (Parkside) polling 18 votes each. 2021 was Rayment’s first year of football as she helped the Red Devils to fifth spot after a slow start to their season, while Griffin – in just her second year – added to the runner-up B&F she received in 2019. Dylan Jones claimed the OJ Meehan Medal in his first year at Elsternwick AFC, having also captained his side to the minor premiership.

The VAFA congratulates all winners on their outstanding seasons. The Awards Night for Prem-Prem C + Rising Stars, MVPs and Umpire Awards will take place on RSN Carnival at 7pm next Wednesday 22 September.

Award Winners

Division 1 Men’s (LS Pepper Medal): Riley Verbi (Old Camberwell) – 23

Division 2 Men’s (Jack Fullerton Medal): Wayne Schultz (Ivanhoe AFC) – 15

Division 3 Men’s (Peter Hutchinson Medal): Justin Raiti (Hawthorn AFC) – 20

Division 4 Men’s (OJ Meehan Medal): Dylan Jones (Elsternwick AFC) – 21

Division 1 Women’s: Clare Fernandes (Whitefriars) – 24

Division 2 Women’s: Charlotte Ferrier (Old Melburnians) – 15

Division 3 Women’s: Madison Lister (Glen Eira) – 18

Division 4 Women’s: Johannah Griffin (Albert Park) and Emily Rayment (Parkside) – 18

Holmesglen U19s

Premier (C.R. Newbury Medal): Harrison Bell and Daniel Tuddenham (Old Xaverians) – 16

Division 1 (George McTaggart Medal): David Goodman (SBMT) and Sean Welsford (Mazenod) – 11

Division 2 (I.A. Brown Medal): Lucas Perry (Marcellin) – 20

Division 3 (H. Harisiou Medal): Austin Parker (Old Mentonians) – 12

Division 4: Angus Ross (Brunswick FC) – 12

U23s: Angus McQuie (St Kevin’s OB)