Held at the GV Hotel in Shepparton, the count saw the top performers across all football and netball grades acknowledged for their superb 2025 season, with a pair of Saints taking out football gongs.
While the best and fairest medals are awarded via field umpire votes, the league’s MVP awards are determined by the opposition coach, and both Xavier Wapling and Jack Frampton dazzled on numerous occasions to catch the eye, taking out the under-18 and reserves MVP awards, respectively.
It is the second successive season that Wapling has claimed the award, having last year stunned the league to win it as a bottom-age player, a feat he repeated in 2025, polling 74 votes – the most of any MVP recipient on the night.
It capped a dominant year for the Benalla young gun, who was in the Saints’ best in 17 out of 18 games this season, while also earning an Interleague call up to face the ovens and Murray League.
Frampton also enjoyed a brilliant year, polling 45 votes from 16 reserves games, with the Saints life member having been named among Benalla’s best on 10 occasions.
In other awards, forward Nathan Wright took out the Steve O’Toole Leading Goal Kicker Award in the senior football competition, having booted 64 goals from 17 games, five clear of second-placed Hugh Hamilton of Rochester, in what was an outstanding first season at the club.
Wright earned Interleague honours as a result of his brilliant on-field performances, pulling on the GVL guernsey against the O&M, while also making his VFL debut for the Northern Bullants to round out a stunning campaign.
Mark Marriott was recognised by the umpires for his standout year, polling 15 votes to finish equal fifth in the Morrison Medal count on 15 votes, five behind winner Callum Brown from Mansfield on 20 votes, despite the Saints winning only four games for the season.
The result further enhances Marriott’s reputation as one of the best big men in the league, having also finished inside the top five with 17 votes last season.
Darcey Carracher had a brilliant season in the under-15 netball, and was duly recognised with a pair of top-five finishes, placing second in the under-15 MVP award as voted by coaches, while also finishing fourth in the Jacqui Hodgson Best and Fairest Medal count as voted by umpires.
Ryley Ely was nominated as a football rising star finalist, having played every senior game and being named in the best seven times after returning to the club from under-18 football at Wangaratta Rovers, while Nikita Hanson was nominated as a future star finalist in the netball, having enjoyed a similarly successful season.
