It was a tough exercise for the Daily’s three Game Day writers, Matt Taylor, Jason Torney and Nic Vine, to pick the SFNL senior footy team of the year, with several players stiff to miss out after much deliberation and debate.
THE three of us were very much guided by the Holcroft Footballer of the Year points tally, along with players of the week, and other stats such as the season’s best goal-kickers.
There were several star players who just picked themselves.
These included Roos quartet Andy Wall, Wade Hancock, Nick Jensen and Cleve Westley, while fellow top-two club Irymple have players like defender Tom Brownbridge and forward Nick Pezzaniti who couldn’t be ignored for a team-of-the-year call-up.
Ouyen United’s SA connection, Kaine Stevens (the Holcroft Footballer of the Year) and Dallas Willsmore, are two of the best players in the competition and couldn’t be left out.
The spring-heeled Zac Wandin had a fine season in the back line for the Swallows, just as fifth-placed Imperials pair Matt Mazzini and Ben Galbraith did for their club.
The was some talk about whether Mazzini or Galbraith should be in the starting side, but we felt Mazzini had a slight edge over his teammate. It forced Galbraith onto the bench.
At 36, Imps great Brad Hards polled 10 votes in the Holcroft Player of the Year competition and was the player of the round after starring against Red Cliffs in round 10. He continues to be one of the 10 best footballers in Sunraysia and got our nod to captain the side. The vice-captain is Andy Wall.
Robinvale Euston small forward Isaiah Johnson knocked the selection door down with his 35 goals in the past seven games. He has been a key part of the Eagles’ seven-game winning streak heading into the finals.
Teammate Andrew Richardson has been out with a hamstring injury in recent weeks, but he was having his best season in years on the wing before then.
There was debate about whether to put Red Cliffs’ Jonty Marciano on the other wing, but we felt Mildura’s Mitch Rogerson was his side’s best player more regularly.
A host of other players were in the conversation for selection and were unfortunate to miss out.
These included Irymple pair Justin Robinson and Nick Mee, South Mildura big man Tyler Curtis, Merbein duo James Kennedy and Daniel Tung, and Mildura workhorse Dylan Murphy.
By virtue of finishing as minor premiers, the Swallows’ co-coaches, Brownbridge and Dan Coghlan, will take the reins of the team.
