GSFL 2024: Railways midfielder Ryley Valli ends spectacular season with best and fairest award on 200 votes

Runaway Kleemann Medal winner and star midfielder Ryley Valli saluted his stellar individual season by winning Railways’ league best and fairest award at the club’s presentation night on September 27. A prolific accumulator who also boasts the ability to hit the scoreboard, Valli was exceptional through the midfield and was named the Albany Advertiser footballer of the year and the Great Southern Football League coaches player of the year. Valli topped the Tigers leaderboard with a whopping 200 votes, more than double the amount inside bull Jayden Scott (96 votes) polled in second. Kane Shephard narrowly finished in third with 93 votes and silky midfielder Bailey Bennett and player-coach Bodhi Stubber (both 87) rounded out the top five. Beau Ewen, who found a new role as a lockdown defender, was named best team player and Mohit Jaggi was recognised as the Tigers’ best under-21 player. Key back Declan Willey and half-back Milan Jaggi shared the coaches award, Stubber won the leading goal-kicker trophy and Ryan Davies was named most consistent. Tom Geddes was named reserves best and fairest, emerging young gun Hayden Leo won the colts best and fairest and the super talented Robert Farmer took out the 16s top gong. Andrew Want won the Don and Lyn Braimbridge clubman of the year, Gabby Dixon took out the Jenny Sims clubwoman of the year title and the prestigious George Stephens Medal went to Scott. Club stalwarts Gavin Jackman and Haydn Sproxton received life membership of the club.