Contenders emerge in RMC Medal race

Contenders emerge in RMC Medal race

GEELONG Falcons defender Angus Hastie has broken into the top five of the 2023 Rookie Me Central Medal count, after being awarded four votes in Round 7. The rebounder racked up a game-high 33 disposals in his side’s win over Bendigo, but teammate Tobyn Murray collected the full five votes.

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Hastie now sits equal-fifth on this year’s leaderboard alongside pick one fancy Harley Reid, who did not feature for the Pioneers due to a head knock. Both are well behind the runaway leader though, Tasmania Devils midfielder Colby McKercher.

The super consistent National Academy member notched his fifth full set of votes in as many games, taking his tally to 25 for the season. He is nine votes clear of Sandringham Dragons captain Will Brown (16), who moved past Oakleigh bottom-ager Jagga Smith (15) in second with a single vote this week.

With the school football season now well underway and representative action on the horizon, this year’s count is set for a shake up over the coming weeks. All five Northern Academies have also bowed out, meaning their counts are now final.

Fronted by McKercher and with a game on the rest of the competition, Tasmania is the team with the most votes (65), 11 more than the Geelong Falcons. Eastern Ranges fill out the podium with a tally of 49 while the likes of Sandringham (47) and Dandenong (46) are chasing hard.

ROUND 7 VOTES

Dandenong Stingrays 10.9 (69) def. Oakleigh Chargers 9.11 (65)
By: Peter Williams

5 – C. Simpson (Dandenong Stingrays)
4 – H. Doughton (Dandenong Stingrays)
3 – K. Brown (Oakleigh Chargers)
2 – C. Hynes (Dandenong Stingrays)
1 – B. Wilson (Dandenong Stingrays)

Gippsland Power 8.13 (61) def. Western Jets 8.7 (55)
By: Declan Reeve

5 – Z. Duursma (Gippsland Power)
4 – H. Kadour (Western Jets)
3 – S. Amoroso (Gippsland Power)
2 – T. Stern (Gippsland Power)
1 – J. Smith (Western Jets)

Eastern Ranges 12.10 (82) def. Lions Academy 6.8 (44)
By: Michael Alvaro

5 – C. Windsor (Eastern Ranges)
4 – C. Trembath (Eastern Ranges)
3 – C. Moraes (Eastern Ranges)
2 – J. Smillie (Eastern Ranges)
1 – P. Snell (Lions Academy)

Murray Bushrangers 11.11 (77) def. Sandringham Dragons 7.9 (51)
By: Michael Alvaro

5 – C. O’Sullivan (Murray Bushrangers)
4 – C. James (Murray Bushrangers)
3 – P. Gothard (Murray Bushrangers)
2 – O. Ryan (Murray Bushrangers)
1 – W. Brown (Sandringham Dragons)

Swans Academy 12.8 (80) def. by Tasmania Devils 18.6 (114)
By: Michael Alvaro

5 – C. McKercher (Tasmania Devils)
4 – J. Dolliver (Tasmania Devils)
3 – C. May (Swans Academy)
2 – C. Cleary (Swans Academy)
1 – G. Payne (Tasmania Devils)

Bendigo Pioneers 8.10 (58) def. by Geelong Falcons 10.10 (70)
By: Michael Alvaro

5 – T. Murray (Geelong Falcons)
4 – A. Hastie (Geelong Falcons)
3 – Z. McInnes (Geelong Falcons)
2 – J. Pike (Geelong Falcons)
1 – A. Day-Wicks (Bendigo Pioneers)

GWV Rebels 8.6 (54) def. by Suns Academy 10.11 (71)
By: Michael Alvaro

5 – E. Read (Suns Academy)
4 – J. Walter (Suns Academy)
3 – J. Rogers (Suns Academy)
2 – N. Williams (Suns Academy)
1 – O. Hannaford (GWV Rebels)

RMC MEDAL LEADERBOARDS

TOP 5 PLAYERS

1. Colby McKercher (Tasmania Devils) – 25 votes
2. Will Brown (Sandringham Dragons) – 16
3. Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers) – 15
=5. Angus Hastie (Geelong Falcons) – 14
=5. Harley Reid (Bendigo Pioneers) – 14

BEST BY CLUB

Lions Academy: Sam Marshall (5)
Bendigo Pioneers: Harley Reid (14)
Calder Cannons: Nash King (10)
Dandenong Stingrays: Cooper Simpson (9)
Eastern Ranges: Josh Smillie (11)
Suns Academy: Jed Walter (11)
Geelong Falcons: Angus Hastie (14)
Gippsland Power: Zane Duursma (10)
Giants Academy: Harvey Thomas (5)
GWV Rebels: Lachlan Charleson (8)
Murray Bushrangers: Connor O’Sullivan (8)
Northern Knights: Charlie Naish (8)
Northern Territory: Orlando Turner (2)
Oakleigh Chargers: Jagga Smith (15)
Sandringham Dragons: Will Brown (16)
Swans Academy: Indhi Kirk (13)
Tasmania Devils: Colby McKercher (25)
Western Jets: Logan Morris (11)

VOTES BY CLUB

Lions Academy – 12
Bendigo Pioneers – 41
Calder Cannons – 38
Dandenong Stingrays – 46
Eastern Ranges – 49
Suns Academy – 45
Geelong Falcons – 54
Gippsland Power – 32
Giants Academy – 12
GWV Rebels – 34
Murray Bushrangers – 35
Northern Knights – 29
Northern Territory – 3
Oakleigh Chargers – 39
Sandringham Dragons – 47
Swans Academy – 37
Tasmania Devils – 65
Western Jets – 26