Matty James has become just the second player to win the Neville Whitley Medal at two different clubs after claiming the GDFNL’s highest individual honour tonight (Wednesday).
The Corio midfielder, who previously claimed the award in 2018 and was runner-up the following year during his stint at Bell Post Hill, won by seven votes from East Geelong captain John McIntyre on 23.
2023 runner-up, Werribee Centrals star Tyler Crennan and Bell Post Hill skipper Jack Yates – who was ineligible after accepting a reprimand for an incident during the season – polled the third most votes on 22.
James’ win gives the Devils consecutive Whitley Medal wins, with captain Joel Bennett, who missed more than half of this season through injury, claiming last year’s award.
In one of the most consistent polling seasons in medal history, James – who also won Corio’s best-and-fairest – attracted votes in 14 matches.
GDFNL: TEAM OF THE YEAR – LIONS LEADERS RECOGNISED
When the count went live after Round 9, James led on 15 votes, one clear of Thomson recruit Billie Smedts.
The duo was level on 17 votes after Round 10 before Smedts took the lead with a best-on-ground in Round 11 and held his advantage until going overseas after Round 13 for three matches.
That allowed James to snatch back the lead that he wouldn’t surrender with a three-vote effort in Round 15.
James joins Clayton Trotter as the only player to win the award at different clubs.
Trotter claimed the Whitley Medal with Anakie in 2001 before crossing to Inverleigh when the club reformed the following year and repeated his success at the Roos,
He is the Devils’ fourth winner of the Whitley Medal since it was struck in 1992, joining Bennett, Mark Stewart, and Ricky O’Toole (twice).
Earlier in the evening, Inverleigh’s Logan Haberfield was named Rookie of the Year, while Belmont Lions stalwart claimed the Ivan Tansing Medal as reserves best-and-fairest.
X: @krockfootball
CLUB BY CLUB VOTES
ANAKIE
- Luke Dahlhaus 13
- Ajang Kuol mun 11
- Andrew Boseley 8
- Braydan Riddell 5
- Sam Lloyd 3
- Joel Jahn 3
- Michael Crossett 2
- Oscar Barter 2
- Jett Mills 1
BANNOCKBURN
- Kieran Fulton 19
- James Hose 10
- Connor Jervies 7
- Josh Kunjka 4
- Alex Beardsell 3
- Tristan Battaglia 3
- Rob Maibaum 3
- Douglas Thomas 2
- Fletcher Wilson 1
- Sam Giles 1
BELL POST HILL
- Jack Yates 22
- Josh Norman 5
- Sam Harmer 4
- Boe Collins 3
- Zane Jones 1
- Harry McIntyre 1
- Will Kerrins 1
BELMONT LIONS
- Benjamin Evans 20
- Jed Evans 10
- David Allitt 8
- Michael Murdoch 6
- Noah Houtsma 6
- Bradley Mitchell 5
- Brock Mahoney 4
- Josh Wilson 3
- Braeden Eddy 3
- Andy Wylie 3
- Harrison Thompson 2
- Sam Jones 2.
CORIO
- Matthew James 30
- Joel Bennett 9
- Toby Bennett 6
- Herschelle Carr 3
- Blake Ash 1.
EAST GEELONG
- John McIntyre 23
- Jaydan McLauchlan
- Ben Crombie 9
- Jack Beardsell 8
- Zac Smith 7
- Ned Aulsebrook
- Harris Monahan 4
- Billy Andrew 3
- William Hough 2
- Alister Maas 2
- Caleb Ezard 2
- Jacob Sobey 2
- Jack Dickson 2
- Sam King 1
GEELONG WEST GIANTS
- Brayden Mitchell 5
- Matthew Ianelli 4
- Joshua Viney 3
- Matthew Sondergeld 2
- Thomas Burke 2
- Tannar Stone 1
- Thomas Jenkins 1
- Trent Archer 1.
INVERLEIGH
- Matt Tyquin 12
- Luke Wilson 6
- Dalton Grundell 6
- Adam Donohue 6
- Casey Meehan 3
- Finley O’Keefe 3
- Kadison McEwan-Walsh 3
- Jakeb Templeton 2
- Ryan Robertson 2
- Mason Dickson 2
- Logan Haberfield 2
- Jarrod Love 1
- Will Stoney 1
NORTH GEELONG
- Rory Desnoy 19
- Cooper Vaughan 8
- Blake Miller
- Zac Schwennesen 7
- Harry Cornelius
- John Fazio
- Mitchell Habib 3
- Damian Fazio 2
- Noah Bily
- Thomas Schwennesen 1.
THOMSON
- Billie Smedts 21
- Jordan Camm 7
- Samuel Jacka 7
- Darcy Troop 6
- Jacob Knight 6
- Charlie Donohue 3
- Lucas Boyd 3
- Logan Mitchell 2.
WERRIBEE CENTRALS
- Tyler Crennan 22
- Michael Culliver 17
- Darryl Chesterman 9
- Zach O’Halloran
- Kur Kur 7
- Joshua Macdonald 6
- Carmelo Saliba
- Daly Andrews 3
- Rhyce Prismall 1
- Bradley Carlton 1
- Patrick Daley 1
- Zechariah De Leon 1
WINCHELSEA
- Finlay Parish 12
- Cassidy Parish 10
- Tavae Sauni 9
- Caleb Brown 6
- Thomas Moloney
- Brayden O’Hanlon 4
- Shane O’Connell
- Jordan Gould 3
- Bailey Kahle 2
- Leigh Ellis 2
- Adam Walsh 2.
