To celebrate the occasion, The Daily Advertiser’s Riverina League writer Matt Malone has named his Team of the Year.

B: M Macauley, J Anstee, G Orton

HB: C Lovell, D Walker, I Damme

C: J Iudica, H Collins, S Campbell

HF: J Kelly, L Potter, H Perryman

F: S Glyde, J Lawton, J Buchanan

Foll: J Olsson, J Klemke, T Conroy

Inter: E Smith, B King, J Lane, J Maddox

Coach: Shaun Campbell

Marshal Macauley (Coolamon)

Courageous, talented and reliable. Macauley enjoyed another brilliant year for the Hoppers, repelling opposition attacking raids and providing excellent rebound from defence.

John Anstee (Wagga Tigers)

Anstee may have only played half a year but that’s all it took to again prove why he is arguably the competition’s best defender. Reliable, skillful and rarely beaten.

Guy Orton (Griffith)

Orton returned to the Riverina League and showed he’s still got it. He was used in a number of different roles this year, often down back marking dangerous opposition small forwards. He also rolled through the midfield where he played his best football.

Campbell Lovell (Wagga Tigers)

Lightning quick small defender that provides great run and rebound for Wagga Tigers. Lovell enjoyed his best year and is one of the reasons behind Tigers’ excellent season.

Dale Walker (Wagga Tigers)

Missed the opening month of the competition but was worth the wait. One of Tigers’ Canberra recruits, Walker can lay claims to being one of the best players in the competition. Tall, skillful and athletic, Walker not only shuts his opponent down but then runs off them.

Isaac Damme (MCUE)

A young gun who enjoyed his best season yet for MCUE. Damme held down centre-half-back for the Goannas and did the job superbly, not only marking opposition forwards tightly, but also driving his team forward on the rebound.

Jordan Iudica (Griffith)

Another Canberra footballer to enter the league this year, Iudica’s footy smarts and silky skills saw him shine for Griffith. He would be hard to beat for the Swans’ best and fairest and one of the reasons behind their finals return.

Harry Collins (MCUE)

At 23, it feels like Collins has been around forever but the young gun keeps getting better. He led from the front this season and backed up last year’s effort to stamp himself as one of the competition’s premier midfielders.

Shaun Campbell (Wagga Tigers)

What may have been missed in him guiding Tigers to the minor premiership as coach is the impact he has had on-field. A hard-running midfielder with the ability to push forward and kick goals. Is particularly dangerous out in open space.

Jackson Kelly (Wagga Tigers)

A breakout year for the young gun. The 20-year-old would be up there in Tigers’ best and fairest after a stellar season. Great at winning the footy and even better when using his speed to break the lines and deliver the ball forward.

Luke Potter (Leeton-Whitton)

Arrived at Leeton with big wraps and has got better as the season’s gone on. Plays up across half-forward and has booted 43 goals. Potter can take a contested mark but is also quick and good at ground level.

Harry Perryman (Collingullie-Glenfield Park)

Only played eight games but what an eight they were. Chimed in half-way through the season after a sensational under 18 representative stint, Perryman inspired the Demons’ late charge into finals. Was most dangerous when forward.

Sam Glyde (Coolamon)

A breakout year from the Coolamon teenager. Glyde booted 31 goals, and created many more, as a small forward in a team that finished seventh on the ladder. Clever, skillful and has a bright future.

James Lawton (GGGM)

Arguably the best player in the competition and had a great year with 60 goals from 14 games. Lawton is virtually unstoppable in full flight and tore most opposition defences to shreds with his all-round athletic ability.

John Buchanan (Wagga Tigers)

A little unlucky to be pushed to the pocket after kicking 74 goals from 17 games on his way to back-to-back league goalkicking titles. A very craft small forward that plays tall. Very hard to stop on the lead and remains dangerous once ball hits the ground.

Jacob Olsson (GGGM)

Returned home this year and reclaimed his title as the premier ruckman in the competition. Olsson did not have his best year, as he battled injury, but he still dominated games and provided GGGM with a huge advantage.

Jayden Klemke (Collingullie-Glenfield Park)

Klemke enjoyed a brilliant season on his way to a runaway victory in the Jim Quinn Medal. Can now lay claim to being the premier midfielder in the competition. Wins the contested ball, classy and went forward to kick 34 goals.

Toby Conroy (Leeton-Whitton)

An experienced ball-winning midfielder that knocks up getting kicks. Ultra consistent, smart and one of the big reasons behind the Crows’ big year.

Evan Smith (Turvey Park)

The highlight of Turvey Park’s season was the return of Smith and his efforts in a losing team. Smith battled gallantly in the ruck and was excellent around the ground, taking big marks and dangerous when forward.

Ben King (Griffith)

Backed up his super debut season at Griffith with another excellent year. King was super consistent on-ball and creative when forward. King was named in Griffith’s best 14 times and kicked 25 goals.

Jarred Lane (Narrandera)

Lane was the Eagles’ most consistent player over the 16 rounds in tough circumstances. Lane was good through the midfield, spent time at centre-half-back, then excelled most in the ruck once Lachie Hunter went down.

Jamie Maddox (Coolamon)

The Riverina League representative captain enjoyed another rock solid year. The Hoppers may not have played finals but Maddox was named in Coolamon’s best 12 times, winning the hard ball and notched up another club best and fairest.

Shaun Campbell (Wagga Tigers)

Hard to go past the Tigers coach. Campbell’s unique style has proven a big hit with the young Tigers group and the proof is in the pudding, losing just the one game for the year.