BY NATHAN DOLE
Bolton, Warde claim Heathcote DFNL medal victories
HEATHCOTE centre Brooke Bolton and Leitchville Gunbower Jobee Warde marked historic victories in this season’s fairest and best awards in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL.
A gun centre and co-coach of the Saints, Bolton claimed a third Esther Cheatley medal.
It’s been another superb season in senior footy by Warde who became the first Bombers player to claim the Sam Cheatley medal.
Across the past three seasons, Bolton’s led or been to the fore in the league’s medal race.
The Saints’ star was number one in 2021 and ’22 and runner-up last year.
In a closely-fought finish it was Bolton who polled 24 votes as Leitchville Gunbower’s Ava Hamilton and Colbinabbin’s Ella Kerlin were joint runners-up on 22 votes.
Umpires awarded Bolton the maximum three votes for best on court in rounds one, 11, 12, 13, and 18.
Her consistency meant she gained votes in six other matches as the Saints made their way to consecutive A-grade finals campaigns.
Bolton’s season ended in last Sunday’s elimination final against Leitchville Gunbower at Leitchville.
Her latest medal victory puts her in an elite group of netballers to have won the Esther Cheatley medal at least three times.
The “three-plus” club is led by Zenda McConnell from White Hills on six, and includes Colbinabbin’s Olivia McEvoy and North Bendigo’s Bobbie Simpson on three.
This Sunday’s first semi-final at White Hills will feature Hamilton and Kerlin in action for the Bombers and Grasshoppers as they fight to stay in the premiership race.
Bolton joins White Hills’ Zenda McConnell (six), North Bendigo’s Bobbie Simpson (three) and Colbinabbin’s Olivia McEvoy (three) to have won at least three Esther Cheatley medals.
Ruckmen dominated the race for the Sam Cheatley medal.
Adjudged best on ground in six matches, Jobee Warde led the way to the prestigious honour on 20 votes.
The top Bomber gained maxium votes against Colbinabbin, rounds two and 11; Heathcote, round six; Huntly, round eight; Lockington Bamawm United, round 12; and Elmore, round 13.
He claimed two votes in the fourth round against Elmore.
Warde’s footy journey included a stint with the Bendigo Pioneers, and Echuca.
He joined the LG Bombers in 2022 and will play a crucial role in this Sunday’s first semi-final against Heathcote at White Hills.
Top five in the Sam Cheatley Medal included Mount Pleasant ruckman and captain Chris Down, 16 votes; Heathcote’s gun recruit and ruckman James Orr, 15; and Callum Crisp who has also starred in the ruck in his first year at White Hills.
Heathcote DFNL medal winners for the 2024 season:
Football:
Seniors, Sam Cheatley Medal:
Winner: Jobee Warde, Leitchville Gunbower, 20.
Runner-up: Liam Bartels, White Hills, 19.
Reserves, Tom Morgan Medal:
Winner: Bart Phillips, Lockington Bamawm United, 13.
Runner-up: Nicholas Wharton, White Hills, 12.
Under-18s, David Roulton Medal:
Winner: Daniel Butler, Heathcote, 17.
Runner-up: Will Bowles, Mount Pleasant, 16.
Netball:
A-grade, Esther Cheatley Medal:
Winner: Brooke Bolton, Heathcote, 24.
Runners-up: Ava Hamilton, Leitchville-Gunbower, and Ella Kerlin, Colbinabbin, 22.
A-reserve:
Winner: Amy Walton, Leitchville Gunbower, 22.
Runner-up: Dom Palmer, Colbinabbin, 20.
B-grade:
Winner: Hollie Davidson, White Hills, 29.
Runner-up: Carmen Dye, Leitchville-Gunbower, 28.
B-reserve:
Winner: Kealie Lambert, White Hills, 35.
Runner-up: Bronte Bowles, White Hills, 29.
17-and-under:
Winner: Ruby Loverso, Mount Pleasant, 22.
Runners-up: Remee Christian, Lockington Bamawm United; and Lillie Taylor, Leitchville-Gunbower, 18.
15-and-under:
Winner: Cadence Major, Lockington Bamawm United, 30.
Runner-up: Lily Tuema, Mount Pleasant, 25.
13-and-under:
Winner: Milla Ryan, Leitchville Gunbower, 35.
Runner-up: Brydie Anderson, Elmore, 29.
Sam Cheatley Medal leaderboard:
20 Jobee Warde, Leitchville Gunbower.
19 Liam Bartels, White Hills.
16 Chris Down, Mount Pleasant.
15 James Orr, Heathcote.
13 Callum Crisp, White Hills.
13 Ryan Hartley, North Bendigo.
13 Nick Waterson, North Bendigo.
12 Kaiden Antonowicz, White Hills.
12 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
12 Tyler Phillips, Lockington Bamawm United.
10 Nathan Basile, Colbinabbin.
10 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
Esther Cheatley Medal leaderboard:
24 Brooke Bolton, Heathcote.
22 Ava Hamilton, Leitchville Gunbower.
22 Ella Kerlin, Colbinabbin.
21 Abbey Hromenko, Elmore.
19 Molly Johnston, White Hills.
17 Jessica Davidson, Lockington Bamawm United.
17 Matilda McIntyre, Colbinabbin.
16 Allira Holmes, Elmore.
15 Caitlyn Hamilton, Leitchville Gunbower.
14 Claudia Collins, Leitchville Gunbower.
14 Eliza Hynes, White Hills.
12 Sarah Nash, White Hills.
12 Andrea Wilson, Elmore.