GSFL 2024: Ryley Valli holds big lead in Albany Advertiser Footballer of the Year Award as voting goes silent

Talented Railways midfielder Ryley Valli continues to firm as this year’s Kleemann Medal favourite heading into the final two rounds of the Great Southern Football League season. Voting in the Albany Advertiser Footballer of the Year Award has gone silent after the completion of round 12, with Valli a clear leader in what is a two-horse race for the media honour. Only Valli and destructive Albany ball winner Bailey Taylor can take out the Advertiser’s top award, the pair the only players to be in double figures after 12 rounds. When voting went in-house with three rounds left in the normal season, Valli held a significant seven-vote lead over Taylor. Valli stretched the margin after collecting best-afield honours in the Tigers’ 12-point win over the Lions in round 12, moving to 21 votes. The former Claremont colt has returned to the GSFL in scintillating form this season and has picked up maximum votes in seven games. Taylor missed his first game of the season when representing WA Country for the third straight year in their loss to South Australia in the State game on July 28. However he has polled four best-on-ground honours to go with two one-vote games, to remain in the hunt to claim the award. Tigers gun Bailey Bennett and Sharks young star Kaleb Germain are inside the top four with nine votes each. Germain picked up his third best-on-ground honour in the Sharks’ win over North Albany in round 12. Sharks’ Isaac Baum and Royals’ Declan McNamara are next with eight votes each and Mt Barker’s Daniel Patching has seven votes to his name. The award is voted on in a 3-2-1-system in each league fixture of the GSFL by Advertiser reporters and the final rounds of voting and winner will be announced on Kleemann Medal night. 2024 Albany Advertiser Footballer of the Year - Leaderboard 21: Ryley Valli (RAIL) 14: Bailey Taylor (ALB) 9: Bailey Bennett (RAIL) Kaleb Germain (ALB) 8: Isaac Baum (ALB) Declan McNamara (ROY) 7: Daniel Patching (MB) 6: Zach Jackson (MB) Reagan Hutchinson (DW) Brayden Parker (ROY) Kane Pinney (ALB)