Bill West
Gisborne’s highest football award, the Gardiner Medal, has been won by 19-year-old dynamo Flynn Lakey.
And not unexpectedly, star netballer Maddy Stewart – twice a Bendigo League Betty Thompson Medal winner – took out Gisborne A-grade netball’s best player award.
The club’s awards night on Thursday was at the Starlight Room at Taylor Lakes Hotel, only days after Gisborne Football Netball Club had captured four BFNL premierships at the Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Flynn Lakey, who began with Gisborne Auskick as a seven-year-old and dominated for Gisborne Rookies is a prolific ball winning talent, inheriting many of his talented father Marty’s traits on the field.
His teammates benefit from Lakey’s great ball distribution and the star midfielder/on-baller may yet rise to even greater heights.
A senior Bendigo League premiership and a Gardiner Medal in one season is not a bad double for a teenager!
Tireless ruckman Braidon Blake, one of the stars of the finals, was runner-up to Lakey.
Not far behind was the peerless Brad Bernacki, who missed a considerable number of matches with Gisborne because of VFL commitment.
Bernacki actually finished equal second four votes behind Michelsen Medal winner Jake Moorhead (Strathfieldsaye) this season, and in 2019 he was joint runner-up in the league’s medal with Gisborne’s leading goalkicker Pat McKenna, who also polled well again season despite missing some matches.
Understandably the ‘Dogs award night was an unforgettable celebration.
Maddy Stewart was pleased to again win the club’s top netball award, but would probably swap it for a premiership!
Gisborne’s best and fairest senior football player was Shannon McFerran, who has had an illustrious career in women’s football and is still setting a fine example.
The Bulldogs Bridie Collings was runner-up in the Essendon District Football League’s women’s 18.5 years football best and fairest with 24 votes – a great performance.
