Norris has not been included on the invite list for the counting of the votes, with only last season’s runner-up Kaine Herbert receiving an invite from the senior team.
Many would have thought, from his form and statistical return, Norris had to be one of the favourites to win the award at the count on Monday night at Shepparton after a stellar season.
Norris’ non-invite throws the award wide open and, unless Herbert goes one better than last year, 2019 winner Mick Mattingly will remain the last Kyabram player to claim the award.
Euroa’s former AFL player Will Hayes, Echuca’s co-coach Sam Reid and Rochester’s Joe Atley, who have also played at the highest level, are all expected to make strong bids to claim the medal after consistent seasons.
Atley is ineligible due to being reported, and suspended, but the other two are the hot favourites.
Herbert, who has top three finishes in the medal in the past two seasons, hasn’t been quite as consistent this season, but he has still played some fine games and is a proven vote catcher.
And, most importantly, he has been invited.
Liam Ogden and Lachie Smith are also likely to get votes.
Kyabram has had just the one multiple medal winner in its history with Indigenous wizard Jeff Cooper taking the award in first season in the GVL in a premiership team and again in 1961.
Kyabram boasts the inaugural medal winner in Wilf Cox in 1934.
Other Kyabram players to win the medal are: Charlie Stewart (1963), Richard Clay (1964), Peter Giddos (1988) Ben Gugliotti (1993), Linc Withers (2008) and Michael Mattingly (2019).
Payment cap rise
GVL clubs will be able to spend more on players next season following AFL Victoria’s move to raise ceiling caps.
GVL clubs can spend an extra $5000 on player payments, taking the ceiling to $130,000, the equal most along with the Ovens and Murray League.
There also will an adjustment to the Player Point System.
This change follows a review by AFL Victoria in conjunction with the Community Club Sustainability Program Advisory Group.
It determined the PPPs requires localised solutions as they are best managed at country or metropolitan level.
Waite Benalla coach
Benalla Football Club will have local and former AFL star Jarrad Waite coaching it next GVL season.
Waite replaces club legend John Martiniello and Mark McKenzie who shared the role this season.
Waite, 40, played with Benalla this season and showed he can still make an impact.
In his prime Waite played 250 AFL games (184 with Carlton and 60 with North Melbourne) and kicked 377 goals.
Ellery Pearce medallist
Picola Football League’s best and fairest award, the Pearce Medal, has been won by Strathmerton centre Jake Ellery.
Ellery polled 27 votes, three more than the runner-up and last year’s winner, Waaia’s Ash Holland.
Unfortunately, Ellery, who was fourth in last year’s medal count, didn’t add a premiership medal to his medal win at the week when Strathmerton went down to Waaia.
Deniliquin Rovers’ Chrissy Hurst claimed the Piciola’s League’s A-grade netball top award, the Lukies Medal, in runaway style with her 28 votes, eight clear of the runner-up, Strathmerton’s playing coach Olivia Osborne.
Beasley Cobram’s best
Murray league club Cobram Football Club’s best and fairest award has been won by Sam Beasley.
In the reserves, Lewis Kennedy was the winner.
The club’s top A-grade netball award was claimed by Leah Nish.
Big free kick numbers
Umpires in charge of Saturday’s qualifying semi-final match between Echuca and Kyabram faced a bit of a challenge — given the two clubs have received the least amount of free kicks in 2023.
Echuca averaged just 21.1 free kicks this season and Kyabram 20.7, making them and Seymour (20.9) the least popular recipients of assistance in the GVL.
Ironically, they finished in the top three spots on the ladder.
Fourth-ranked Euroa received, on average, 24.2 free kicks.
The Echuca and Kyabram game created, in comparison, a free kick frenzy as the Bombers received 32 free kicks and Echuca 31.
There were 14 head high contacts awarded, seven to each team, 17 holding the ball decisions, nine holding the man frees, and seven push in the backs (five in Echuca’s favour).
Echuca also kicked the ball out of bounds on the full on five occasions, compared to Kyabram’s two wayward disposals.
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