Originally Published September 16 2022
2022 CENTRAL MURRAY TEAM OF THE YEAR
With the grand final now upon us, The Gannawarra Times football team thought what better way to celebrate the 2022 Central Murray Football Netball League season than by announcing our Football Team of the Year. The only selection criteria was that players had to have played over half the home-and-away season (nine games or more) to make the cut. This unfortunately ruled a number of quality players out of contention – most notably, Cohuna’s Tom Toma and Kerang’s Ryan Gillingham, who both fell just short with eight home-and-away matches to their names.
Please bear in mind, this is only an opinion; and as much as we try, we cannot get to every game that’s played. While this Team of the Year is not an officially recognised or awarded team, we have endeavoured to produce a compilation of the best 22players to have run onto the field across the 18 rounds of the Central Murray Football Netball League season. And before you demand that a name go into the team, remember that first you must take someone out!
Tom Metherell (Cohuna Kangas) 15 games
In his first season at the Kangas, Metherell has quickly become one of the best defenders in the competition. Has the ability to both lock down on an opponent and hurt his oppostition going the other way with his intercept marking and clean disposal. Will be one of the key players in tomorrow’s grand final.
Ben Booth (Woorinen) 9 games
Just qualified for the team of the year after playing nine home-and-away games, but also starred in the Tigers three game finals series. Was clearly the best on ground in Woorinen’s upset win over Kerang in Round 13 and kept some of the competition’s best forwards quiet in most games the Tigers played this season.
Ayden Tessari (Mallee Eagles) 16 games
Tessari came to the Eagles with huge wraps on him prior to 2021 – and with a full season under his belt, lived up to them this season. His ability to run and create as well as play a lock down defender roll saw him named among the Mallee Eagles’ better players in half of their games.
Lachlan Ross (Kerang) 16 games
Ross came to the club after winning Sandhurst’s club Best & Fairest in 2021 and quickly brought his good form to new club Kerang. One of the league’s best all round defenders, with his intercept marking and ability to run and create out of the Blues’ defensive half of the ground seeing him finish in the top five of Kerang’s Best & Fairest.
Michael Dalrymple (Kerang) 16 games
Perhaps the most consistent defender in the competition, Dalrymple is rarely beaten and is a key component of the Blues heavily lauded back six. His ability to intercept mark is second to none, with his likely battle with Rhys Free set to have a big say in which team lifts the cup tomorrow afternoon.
Jydon Neagle (Balranald) 14 games
Won the Jack Betts Medal in his first season as joint coach of Balranald, Neagle’s showed his class every time he touched the football. Led from the front whether it was across half back, through the midfield or down forward, Neagle almost dragged the Roos into the finals with an amazing second half of the season, which included ten of a possible 12 votes from his last four matches in the Jack Betts.
Jye Barry (Woorinen) 16 games
One of the most consistent midfielders in the Central Murray, Barry rarely played a bad game in 2022. Polled in seven of his 16 games in the Jack Betts Medal, including six best on ground performances, to finish equal third. One of the best at finding space in the competition and can tear a game apart with a burst of brilliance.
Martin Kelly (Kerang) 14 games
Has been one of the league’s elite performers for over a decade and is still one of the competition’s best midfielders. Polled 20 votes in this season’s Jack Betts Medal to be tied for third alongside Jye Barry, while also finishing in the Blues’ top five of their club Best & Fairest. Is as tough as they come and his head-to-head battle with Joel Helman will be key to Kerang’s premiership chances tomorrow.
Marcus Wattie (Tyntynder) 16 games
Playing every game, Wattie’s outside speed and ability to find the footy saw him become one of the players to stop for the Doggies this season. Finished with 15 votes in the Jack Betts to lead the way for a Tyntynder side that returned to finals action for the first time since 2013.
Troy Coates (Kerang) 15 games
Kerang’s joint coach wound the clock back in 2022, booting a club-high 48 goals in the home-and-away season to lead the Blues into tomorrow’s grand final. Perhaps the smartest footballer in the league with his ability to find space and get dangerous inside forward 50, as well as provide a strong leading target to his midfielders.
Rhys Free (Cohuna Kangas) 16 games
Leads the Central Murray goal kicking with 78 goals for the season so far, including 73 in the home-and-away season. Free has been a dominant force in 2022, which included an astonishing 39 goals from his first six games and hauls of nine against Tooleybuc-Manangatang, Koondrook-Barham and NNW United.
Matthew Wade (Swan Hill) 16 games
The Swan Hill joint coach and two-time Jack Betts Medallist was once again at his best in 2022, patrolling the centre square with his usual hard-nosed attack on the football that we’ve all become accustomed to. Spent more time forward in 2022, finishing behind only Kal Heslop as the Swans’ leading goal scorer with 21 majors for the season.
Jason Eagle (Tyntynder) 12 games
At his best, Eagle was practically unstoppable, kicking 68 goals from just 12 home-and-away games. Was often double and triple-teamed by opposition teams yet still monstered some of the best defenders in the competition. Back-to-back hauls of 12 goals against Tooleybuc-Manangatang and Swan Hill set the competition alive in the middle of the season.
Ben Fuller (Balranald) 13 games
Balranald’s key forward returned to his best in 2022, kicking 69 goals from 13 games to kick the second most goals for the season. Missed the first three games of the Roos’ season which all resulted in losses for the Balranald boys. If Fuller had played, the story of their season may well have been written very differently
Angus Monfries (Lake Boga) 12 games
Despite injury concerns at times throughout the season, Monfries was still one of the most dynamic forwards in the league. When he was on, Lake Boga were nearly unstoppable – as evidenced by his five-goal second half in the Elimination Final against Tyntynder.
Jacob Simpson (Lake Boga) 14 games
Dominated in his first season at Lake Boga, with the Magpies ruckman quickly becoming a key plank in his team’s push to the Semi Finals. Won Lake Boga’s seniors Best & Fairest, The Guardian’s LJ Hooker Player of the Year and polled 18 votes in the Jack Betts Medal to finish fifth, in one of the most dominant seasons from a ruckman seen in recent seasons.
Bradlee Pay (Kerang) 15 games
Absolutely dominated out of the middle for the all-conquering Kerang this season, with Pay winning the Blues club Best & Fairest – and finishing Runner-Up to Jydon Neagle in the Jack Betts Medal after leading for much of the second half of the count. Will unfortunately be missing from tomorrow’s Grand Final team after tearing his achilles in the penultimate round of the home-and-away season.
Joel Helman (Cohuna Kangas) 14 games
At his best, Helman is the most damaging midfielder in the league – and proved that in the second half of the season when fully fit, polling 12 votes between Rounds 12 and 16 to make a late charge at this year’s Jack Betts Medal. Can rip the game away from an opposition with a 30-minute burst of brilliance, with his speed and ability to break away from a stoppage a highlight of his game, along with his physicality.
Angus Butterfield (Woorinen) 12 games
Proved to be one of the most damaging half-back runners in the competition in his first season with Woorinen, until a shoulder injury curtailed his year. Was named amongst the Tigers better players in 12 of his eight games and was one of the most consistent performers in yellow and black.
Alex Powell (Tooleybuc-Manangatang) 15 games
Returned to his home club this season and quickly stamped his authority on the competition whether playing in the ruck, up forward or through the midfield. Finished equal ninth in the Jack Betts, which is an extraordinary achievement for a team that won just two games for the season.
Harry Allen (Mallee Eagles) 12 games
Allen put together yet another near-flawless season, holding the Mallee Eagles midfield together when everyone else was falling around him with injury. Polled 12 votes for the season in the Jack Betts Medal – including a best on ground performance against during the Eagles’ 9-point loss to the Cohuna Kangas in Round 9.
Tyle Williams (Lake Boga) 15 games
Came into his own the longer the season progressed. Saved his best for the second half of the year, with his performance in Boga’s Elimination Final win over Tyntynder one of the key reasons the Magpies’ season progressed past week one of the finals. Finished Runner-Up in Lake Boga’s Best & Fairest.
Neil Bradley (Cohuna Kangas)
Led the Kangas to second on the ladder, before back-to-back wins in the Qualifying Final (Woorinen) and Second Semi Final (Kerang) has seen the Kangas through to their first Grand Final since 2013. Has his team playing a confident brand of football and has done all season.
