The Daily Advertiser unveils their Riverina League Team of the Year for 2017

All that remains now is the big one, the grand final on Saturday and to celebrate the occasion, The Daily Advertiser’s Riverina League writer Matt Malone has named his Team of the Year.

B: D Kennedy, N Irwin, M Bailey

HB: M Macauley, T Keogh, C Lovell

C: M McKelvie, T Conroy, M Beckmans

HF: B Aiken, J Redfern, W Keogh

F: J Buchanan, M Geppert, J Foster

Foll: J Olsson, J Klemke, W Griggs

Inter: B O’Garey, N Byrne, S Campbell, L Conlan

Coach: L Gestier

Dan Kennedy (Collingullie-GP)

Continues to excel across half-back for the Demons. Plays a lot taller than his size with a great leap and also provides great run and rebound from defence. One of his most consistent seasons.

Neil Irwin (Leeton-Whitton)

Strong, tall, Canberra-based veteran that has thrived holding down a key position role in defence for the Crows this year. Has performed some big roles on key forwards, while also spent time in the ruck.

Matt Bailey (Turvey Park)

Bailey has been one of the pick-ups of the season after arriving at Turvey Park from Newcastle. Athletic defender who provides valuable run and drive from half-back. Would be favourite for the Bulldogs’ best and fairest.

Marshal Macauley (Coolamon)

Another outstanding year from Macauley. The leader of Coolamon’s back six, he can play tall or small and is rarely beaten. He is often the springboard behind the Hoppers attacks with his run from defence.

Tom Keogh (Collingullie-GP)

A rising star of the competition, Keogh has thrived holding down centre-half-back for the Demons this year. His ability to read the play and intercept mark is exceptional, while he is remarkably agile for his size. Has also been able to hold down the ruck in Chris Jackson’s absence.

Campbell Lovell (Wagga Tigers)

Arguably the most dangerous running defender in the competition due to his blistering speed and agility. He backed up a fine 2016 season with a brilliant year, despite often receiving strong attention from opposition teams. Tigers’ best and fairest winner.

Mitch McKelvie (Coolamon)

Took his game to a new level this year and will feature highly in Coolamon’s best and fairest. McKelvie breaks the lines with his hard running and speed, while he also possesses the ability to push forward and kick goals.

Toby Conroy (Leeton-Whitton)

Never plays a bad game and is a big part of the reason the Crows’ are playing off in Saturday’s grand final. Conroy uses his experience to advantage and knocks up winning the football. Has also crept forward to average a goal a game.

Matt Beckmans (Collingullie-GP)

Beckmans has enjoyed one of his best years at the Demons and has become more consistent, despite often drawing close attention from opposition teams. Has won more inside ball this year to go with his dangerous outside running game.

Brad Aiken (Collingullie-GP)

Made the decision to come out of retirement at age 39 this year and has not missed a beat. Started the year forward, and has kicked 36 goals, but also spent time across half-back and through the midfield. An out and out champion, capable of going around again.

Joe Redfern (Coolamon)

It took a few rounds for Matt Hard to decide where best to use Joe Redfern but he quickly made his mark as the best centre-half-forward in the competition. A tall, athletic player that is a good contested mark and shot for goal. Finished with 37 goals for the year and stood tall in big games.

Will Keogh (MCUE)

A smokey from the Goannas. Proved himself to be one of the competition’s most dangerous small forwards in only his second season out of under 17s. Keogh’s pace made him a constant threat around goal and finished with 25 goals from 15 games. 

John Buchanan (Wagga Tigers)

Not his best season in recent times but still good enough to hold down a spot in Team of the Year. Buchanan kicked 50 goals from 16 games, in a year that Tigers dropped outside the top five. He still managed a good output despite having to often carry Tigers’ attack as a small forward.

Marc Geppert (Collingullie-GP)

Returned to the Riverina League with great success, winning his 10^th consecutive league leading goalkickers award. Geppert has 91 goals to his name from 18 games and is a big reason behind the Demons’ rise.

Jordan Foster (MCUE)

Foster returned home to MCUE after about eight years away and proved he is still as good a player as ever. Foster kicked 75 goals from 16 games and was only hitting his peak come finals when a knee injury abruptly ended his season. Sadly, we may not see him again.

Jacob Olsson (GGGM)

Still the premier big man in the game, despite the Lions battling for wins this year. Olsson was dominant at the clearances and did plenty of damage around the ground with his marking ability, regardless of the scoreline or opposition.

Jayden Klemke (Collingullie-GP)

Klemke was a deserved winner of back-to-back Jim Quinn Medals after another outstanding season. He was incredibly consistent, winning plenty of contested footy despite being tagged by opposition teams. He also went forward and kicked goals, and led from the front.

Will Griggs (Griffith) 

Produced his best and most consistent season since arriving at Griffith, and will be hard to beat for the Swans best and fairest award. A skillful midfielder with a hard edge, Griggs showed why he is the man the Swans have picked to lead them into the future with a fine season.

Bryce O’Garey (Leeton-Whitton)

O’Garey has produced some good seasons since he arrived at Leeton-Whitton and this one would be right up there with them. Has managed to stay mostly injury free and has been back to his hard, explosive best. 

Nathan Byrne (MCUE)

Showed why MCUE were so excited to land his signature in the off-season with a very consistent, selfless year. Rarely played a bad game and always gave 100 per cent. Predominantly played ruck but also showed his worth in defence and attack.

Shaun Campbell (Wagga Tigers)

Campbell again proved himself to be one of the most damaging midfielders in the competition. With Tigers not possessing the same cattle as last year’s premiership season, opposition teams put a lot more time into stopping Campbell. He still made a big impact and led from the front.

Lucas Conlan (Griffith)

A teenager with a big future. Conlan made his senior debut at age 16 this season and went on to play 17 games and was in the Swans best 12 times. He played all over the ground but impressed most when taking on the competition’s best forwards as a defender.

Luke Gestier (Collingullie-GP)

Could have gone to any number of coaches, but gets the nod after leading the Demons to the minor premiership and a grand final berth in his first season in charge. He improved Collingullie-GP from last year’s first semi-final exit from finals, and did so while battling his first year back from a knee reconstruction.