GSFL 2024: Railways star Ryley Valli becomes eighth Tiger in nine years to win Kleemann Medal in runaway win

Railways continued their rich vein of Kleemann Medal success on Monday night as midfielder Ryley Valli secured the 2024 award in a landslide victory, finishing 10 votes clear of his closest rival. After a seemingly quiet start to the year, the silky ball-winner polled a staggering 25 votes in the Great Southern Football League’s best and fairest count at Retravision Stadium to become the eighth Tiger to win the coveted award in 10 years. Valli’s spectacular season was further recognised by being named the Albany Advertiser Footballer of the Year and the Coaches Player of the Year in his first season back in the GSFL since returning from a stint at Claremont. He was the heavy pre-count favourite for this year’s medal but the Tiger was not in the top 10 after five rounds of the count as Albany star Bailey Taylor led the vote-getters with nine after the first rotation of games and Valli’s captain Jayden Scott was second with six. But the 20-year-old’s back half of the season was extraordinary and was named best-on-ground in five of the last six matches and polled 17 votes in that period to gallop away with the league’s top honour. A reserved Valli thanked his teammates and coach Bodhi Stubber for helping him rediscover his enjoyment in the game since returning to the club at the beginning of the season and thanked his father Darren for his help through his young football journey. Taylor finished runner-up with 15 votes while fellow Shark Isaac Baum was third with 14. Royals midfielder Zak Mola enjoyed a strong season to be fourth with 13 votes while teammate Declan McNamara (12 votes) rounded out the top five. Bailey Bennett (Railways) and Kane Pinney (Albany) were the other players to pole double digits. Sharks deep forward and former Fremantle and St Kilda player Brett Peake took out his third Sean Plaisted trophy after kicking a league-high 63 goals. Denmark-Walpole’s Bradley Pope (12 votes) completed a rare feat, winning the Charlie Punch Medal as the reserves fairest and best with the second-most votes after his teammate Jaden Guidi (15) was ineligible for the gong. A host of other awards were announced on the night including the GSFL Team of the Year. 2024 Kleemann Medal leaderboard 25: Ryley Valli (RAIL) 15: Bailey Taylor (ALB) 14: Isaac Baum (ALB) 13: Zak Mola (ROY) 12: Declan McNamara (ROY) 10: Bailey Bennett (RAIL); Kane Pinney (ALB) 9: Brayden Parker (ROY) 8: Brent Parsons (MB) 7: Jayden Scott (RAIL) 6: Brock Higgins (ROY) Kaleb Germain (ALB) Reagan Hutchinson (DW) Tyreice Brown (MB) Zach Jackson* (MB)