McCarthy, Taverna star as Murray Football League hosts vote count

Nov 15, 2021

Young gun: Luca Allen finished inside the top-10 of the Murray League’s O’Dwyer Medal. Photo by steve Huntley

Forget the kitchen table or couch via Zoom – the rooms at Club Mulwala were rocking on Sunday as the Murray Football League was finally able to host its night of nights in person.

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And stepping up to claim top honours in the O’Dwyer Medal count was none other than Tongala’s Coby McCarthy.

The brilliant Blue beat away 2019 O’Dwyer medalist Jackson Gash by two votes, topping the count with 19 from a shortened 13-game campaign – 12 of which he featured in.

A scintillating mid-season run of four three-vote performances helped McCarthy deny Gash going back-to-back, proving decisive after Mulwala’s main man began the season with an incredible streak of five maximum-vote games.

Deniliquin Ram Todd Gallagher rounded out the podium with 15 votes, while Cobram boasted the trio of Adam De Cicco, Luca Allen and Tyron Baden (11 votes apiece) which made the top 10.

It was far clearer cut in the reserves’ Damien Jones Medal count.

Nicholas Woods’ 29-vote season left him leagues ahead of the pack, while Mulwala’s Caleb Mitchell and Tongala’s Hudson Kellett took out the respective under-17 and under-14 best-and-fairest awards.

On the leading goal-kicker front, Congupna sharpshooter Daniel Campbell was bestowed the Les Mogg Cup following a stellar 43-goal season.

Moama’s Jake Kilmartin (55 goals) was crowned the reserves’ winner, Mulwala’s Jyda House picked up the under-17 gong thanks to 56 off the boot in 2021 while Tongala’s Tyler Norman collected the under-14 award with 42 majors.

And in the remaining football honours, Numurkah jet Rhys Cason was labelled the league’s Rising Star, Congupna’s Jimmy Boyer took home the club-voted Most Valuable Player trophy and John Hawkins was named a life member.

In the round ball realm, Moama’s representatives were up on their feet when Emily Taverna strolled to the front of the room to collect her well-deserved A-grade best-and-fairest accolade.

The Magpies’ mid-courter shone throughout the truncated season, earning 25 votes to keep a six-vote distance between herself and runner-up Tegan Sutton of Nathalia.

Another to stand out in A-grade was Finley ace Ruby Russell, who snared league MVP honours.

Filtering down the grades, Moama’s Carri Carter secured the B-grade best-and-fairest with 19 votes, Ashlee Watson of Tongala took out top spot in C-grade while Deniliquin’s Amber Farley won the C-reserve race via ratio.

The junior presentation had Rams defender Chloe Way led the 17-and-under count, Mulwala’s Kaleisha Pell dominated the 15-and-under section while Moama’s Coby Morgan raked in the 13-and-under award.