Baum wins Les Ganzer Medal

Star Boxwood Hill midfielder Isaac Baum has capped off a brilliant season by winning the 2017 Les Ganzer Medal as the fairest and best player in the Ongerup Football Association at Sunday’s vote count.

Baum played all 12 home and away matches for Boxwood Hill and polled regularly on his way to 17 votes, finishing well clear of his nearest rival.

The talented midfielder returned to Boxwood this season after spending three seasons with Claremont in the WAFL where he played two league games, 20 reserves matches and 26 colts games.

Baum’s 17 votes were enough for him to finish five votes clear of former winner and Lake Grace-Pingrup stalwart Luke Bairstow (12 votes) and Gnowangerup pair Damien Stewart (10) and Tom Stewart (10).

Gnowangerup’s Tyler Caldwell, Lake Grace-Pingrup’s Ryan Fitzgerald and Boxwood’s Michael Swarbrick all finished with nine votes while Newdegate big man David Newman collected eight votes.

Boxwood Hill forward Aaron Davis was the leading goal kicker with 36 majors for the season and Herbie Hart was named field umpire of the year.

Gnowangerup young gun Jayden Scott received the OFA rookie of the year award and Jack Scanlan was named volunteer of the year.

Jerramungup veteran Michael Lester won the Ken O’Neill Trophy as the reserves best and fairest with 12 votes.

Meanwhile, in the final round of the regular season on Saturday, minor premiers Gnowangerup won their clash against Newdegate courtesy of a 15-goal first half.

The Bulldogs led by 71 points at the long break with Stanley Long-Turner bagging 10 majors and Damien Stewart and Jayden Scott playing well in the eventual 80-point result.

Lake Grace-Pingrup got over the top of Jerramungup at Lake Grace by six points after coming from seven points down at three-quarter-time to notch their third win of the season.

However, the 14.5 (89) to 12.11 (83) win was not enough to lift their percentage above the Eagles, who finished fourth by 25.72 percent in the end.

In the first week of finals this weekend the Bulldogs take on Boxwood in the second semifinal at Gnowangerup on Saturday and the Lions face the Eagles in the elimination first semifinal at Lake Grace on Sunday.