BY NATHAN DOLE
GISBORNE’S Boyd Nalder has capped another superb season in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL reserves footy by claiming back-to-back Alan McDonald Medal wins.
A tally of 16 votes clinched this year’s award.
The vote count was broadcast on Monday night on Radio Fresh fm.
A year ago it was Nalder and Bulldogs’ team-mate Jacob Murphy who were locked on 22 votes when the final card this called.
This time Nalder was a vote clear of Eaglehawk’s Jacob Greenwood in the race for the league honour.
In third place was Golden Square’s Alex Jenkyn on 14 votes.
This season Gisborne made its way to the elimination final where it was knocked out by Strathfieldsaye.
Nalder’s run for the Bulldogs included maximum of three votes awarded by the umpires in round three against Eaglehawk; rounds five and 14 against Kyneton; and the 15th round clash with Golden Square.
A vote in the last round at Maryborough’s Princes Park clinched a second medal victory.
Recruited to Eaglehawk after previous stints with Golden Square, Huntly and Calivil United, Greenwood played a crucial role in the Borough’s run of 17-1 in the home-and-away series.
Greenwood was best afield in four of the Hawks’ matches.
A 52-point victory in last Saturday’s second semi has put the Hawks into the grand final.
Top 12 for the Alan McDonald Medal:
16 Boyd Nalder, Gisborne.
15 Jacob Greenwood, Eaglehawk.
14 Alex Jenkyn, Golden Square.
11 Bailey Ilsley, Eaglehawk.
11 Ryan Pretty, Kyneton.
11 Ryan Wellington, Eaglehawk.
10 Brodie Montague, Sandhurst.
10 Darcy Harris, Kyneton.
9 Tim Brooks, Kangaroo Flat.
9 Macey Eaton, Golden Square.
9 Wade Kinniburgh, Strathfieldsaye.
9 Harry Teasdale, Strathfieldsaye.
The Alan McDonald Medal honours one of the league’s greatest coaches.
Recruited by South Bendigo after a 49-game career with Richmond, McDonald was the Bloods’ senior coach from 1947 to ’56.
During the reign of a coach dubbed ‘The Fox’, South Bendigo was runner-up in 1949, and premiers in 1950, ’51, ’54, ’55 and ’56.
McDonald returned to Punt Road to coach Richmond from 1957 to ’60.
Among those to have earned the Bendigo FNL reserves best and fairest award is Castlemaine’s Warren Jones in 1974.
Two of Kyneton’s greatest players in Robert Beare and Terry Mangan led the medal race in 1999 and 2005.
Eaglehawk’s Dwayne Smith holds the unique title of three medal wins.
It was a feat matched by Nathan Newlan, a dual winner when at Kangaroo Flat, and later at South Bendigo.
Best known as the senior football writer for the Herald-Sun and co-host of AFL 360 on Fox Footy, Mark Robinson earned the Alan McDonald Medal in 1987 when playing for Sandhurst.
ROUND-BY-ROUND VOTES
Well-known names feature in reserves award
SEVERAL premiership winners in senior footy featured in the voting for this season’s Alan McDonald Medal for fairest and best in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL reserves footy action.
Among them were Gisborne’s Anthony Belcher and Ollie Messaoudi who polled six votes.
The consistency of clubmate Boyd Nalder racked up 16 votes to claim back-to-back medal wins.
Others to poll well included Golden Square’s Dale Lowry, Kangaroo Flat’s Matt Wiegard, and Strathfieldsaye’s Jayden Donaldson.
Alan McDonald Medal, reserves football
Round one
Gisborne v Strathfieldsaye
3 Jayden Donaldson, S’saye; 2 Ollie Messaoudi, Gis.; 1 Anthony Belcher, Gis.
Maryborough v Castlemaine
3 Brad Wootton, Mb; 2 Luke Guelen, Mb; 1 James Lord, Cm.
South Bendigo v Eaglehawk
3 Zack Bulger, Eh; 2 Ryan Wellington, Eh; 1 Jordy Holland, Eh.
Sandhurst v Kangaroo Flat
3 Darcy Mills, Sh; 2 Jed Zimmer, Sh; 1 Gach Chuol, KF.
Golden Square v Kyneton
3 Tanner Rayner, GS; 2 Drew Barrett, GS; 1 Tyrie Agnew, Kyn.
Round two
Castlemaine v Gisborne
3 Tom Sparks, Gis.; 2 Elijah Bretheton, Gis.; 1 Kane Paterson, Gis.
Eaglehawk v Maryborough
3 Ryan Wellington, Eh; 2 Rhys Foster, Eh; 1 Connor Attwater, Eh.
Kangaroo Flat v South Bendigo
3 Tim Brooks, KF; 2 Toby Balcke, KF; 1 Daniel Johnstone, SB.
Kyneton v Sandhurst
3 Harrison Free, Sh; 2 Martin Leyden, Sh; 1 Darcy Harris, Kyn.
Strathfieldsaye v Golden Square
3 Macey Eaton, GS; 2 Lachlan Monti, GS; 1 Jordan Salathiel, GS.
Round three
Gisborne v Eaglehawk
3 Boyd Nalder, Gis.; 2 Jack Lawton, Eh; 1 Jordy Holland, E.
Maryborough v Kangaroo Flat
3 Tim Brooks, KF; 2 Tim Leahy, KF; 1 Dion Symons, KF.
South Bendigo v Kyneton
3 Darcy Harris, Kyn.; 2 Luke Beattie, Kyn.; 1 Ryan Pretty, Kyn.
Sandhurst v Golden Square
3 Brodie Montague, Sh; 2 Dale Lowry, GS; 1 Xavier Walsh, Sh.
Castlemaine v Strathfieldsaye
3 Dermott Bell, S’saye; 2 Jayden Donaldson, S’saye; 1 Wade Kinniburgh, S’saye.
Round four
Kangaroo Flat v Gisborne
3 Isaac Lowndes, KF; 2 Mitchell Holt, KF; 1 Boyd Nalder, Gis.
Kyneton v Maryborough
3 Francis Randall, Kyn.; 2 Ryan Pretty, Kyn; 1 Tyrie Agnew, Kyn.
Golden Square v South Bendigo
3 Dale Lowry, GS; 2 Dean Norris, GS; 1 Jack Threlfall, GS.
Strathfieldsaye v Sandhurst
3 Max Allgood, Sh; 2 Jacob Nihill, Sh; 1 Xavier Walsh, Sh.
Eaglehawk v Castlemaine
3 Andrew Bennett, Eh; 2 Ryan Wellington, Eh; 1 Fraser Verhey, Eh.
Round five
Gisborne v Kyneton
3 Boyd Nalder, Gis.; 2 Anthony Belcher, Gis.; 1 Leon Thiner, Gis.
Maryborough v Golden Square
3 Alex Jenkyn, GS; 2 Jack Stewart, GS; 1 Jack Vinnicombe, GS.
South Bendigo v Sandhurst
3 Lachlan Zimmer, Sh; 2 Charlie Robinson, Sh; 1 Connor Sexton, Sh.
Castlemaine v Kangaroo Flat
3 Dion Symons, KF; 2 Jake Hywood, KF; 1 Jack Barras, KF.
Strathfieldsaye v Eaglehawk
3 Mark Storey, Eh; 2 Jack Lawton, Eh; 1 Fraser Verhey, Eh.
Round six
Golden Square v Gisborne
3 Jack Stewart, GS; 2 Alex Jenkyn, GS; 1 Michael Steinbach, Gis.
Sandhurst v Maryborough
3 Jack Keating, Sh; 2 Patrick O’Farrell, Sh; 1 Jack Stevens, Sh.
South Bendigo v Strathfieldsaye
3 Billy Nalder, SB; 2 Ryan Duncan, S’saye; 1 Rowan Fox, S’saye.
Kyneton v Castlemaine
3 Francis Randall, Kyn.; 2 Matthew Hanna, Kyn.; 1 Tyrie Agnew, Kyn.
Kangaroo Flat v Eaglehawk
3 Jacob Greenwood, Eh; 2 Jordy Holland, Eh; 1 Mitchell Holt, KF.
Round seven
Gisborne v Sandhurst
3 Brodie Montague, Sh; 2 Anthony Belcher, Gis.; 1 Patrick O’Farrell, Sh.
Maryborough v South Bendigo
3 Thomas Purcell, SB; 2 Billy Nalder, SB; 1 Kellan Maffescioni, Mb.
Castlemaine v Golden Square
3 Alex Jenkyn, GS; 2 Najem Aldorki, GS; 1 Drew Barrett, GS.
Eaglehawk v Kyneton
3 Ryan Wellington, Eh; 2 Mitchell Johns, Kyn.; 1 Jacob Greenwood, Eh.
Strathfieldsaye v Kangaroo Flat
3 Wade Kinniburgh, S’saye; 2 Ryan Duncan, S’saye; 1 Matthew Wiegard, KF.
Round eight
South Bendigo v Gisborne
3 Matthew Jinkins, Gis.; 2 Regan Harvey, SB; 1 Damien Grazules, Gis.
Maryborough v Strathfieldsaye
3 Carson James, S’saye; 2 Shannon Murphy, S’saye; 1 Harry Teasdale, S’saye.
Sandhurst v Castlemaine
3 Xavier Walsh, Sh; 2 Brodie Montague, Sh; 1 Camblar Kays, Cm.
Golden Square v Eaglehawk
3 Corey Webb, Eh; 2 Lachlan Humphrey, GS; 1 Rhys Foster, Eh.
Kyneton v Kangaroo Flat
3 Matthew Wiegard, KF; 2 Patrick Murphy, KF; 1 Hayden Ingleton, Kyn.
Round nine
Gisborne v Maryborough
3 Ollie Messaoudi, Gis.; 2 Elijah Bretherton, Gis.; 1 Robert Muscat, Mb.
Castlemaine v South Bendigo
3 Wil McCaig, SB; 2 Cody Brooks, SB; 1 Liam Shiell, SB.
Eaglehawk v Sandhurst
3 Bailey Ilsley, Eh; 2 Brodie Montague, Sh; 1 Andrew Bennett, Eh.
Kangaroo Flat v Golden Square
3 Jack Stewart, GS; 2 Najem Aldorki, GS; 1 Isaac Lowndes, KF.
Strathfieldsaye v Kyneton
3 Caleb Ernst, S’saye; 2 Rowan Fox, S’saye; 1 Boden Alexander, S’saye.
Round 10
Strathfieldsaye v Gisborne
3 Wade Kinniburgh, S’saye; 2 Harry Teasdale, S’saye; 1 Hayden Doricic, Gis.
Castlemaine v Maryborough
3 Jackson Swan, Mb; 2 Kellan Maffescioni, Mb; 1 Matthew Potter, Mb.
Eaglehawk v South Bendigo
3 Bailey Ilsley, Eh; 2 Zack Bulger, Eh; 1 Regan Harvey, SB.
Kangaroo Flat v Sandhurst
3 Liam Ledwidge, Sh; 2 Daniel Dempster, KF; 1 Jack Stevens, Sh.
Kyneton v Golden Square
3 Lachlan Humphrey, GS; 2 Macey Eaton, GS; 1 Drew Barrett, GS.
Round 11
South Bendigo v Kangaroo Flat
3 Ben Savy, KF; 2 Matthew Wiegard, KF; 1 Declan McMahon, SB.
Gisborne v Castlemaine
3 Hayden Doricic, Gis.; 2 Braden Spear, Gis.; 1 Tom Wood, Gis.
Sandhurst v Kyneton
3 Harrison Monk, Sh; 2 Harrison Free, Sh; 1 Patrick O’Farrell, Sh.
Golden Square v Strathfieldsaye
3 Alex Jenkyn, GS; 2 Shannon Murphy, S’saye; 1 Harry Teasdale, S’saye.
Maryborough v Eaglehawk
3 Jacob Greenwood, Eh; 2 Jordy Holland, Eh; 1 Tyler Eliades, Eh.
Round 12
Kyneton v South Bendigo
3 Darcy Harris, Kyn.; 2 Will Cornish, SB; 1 Daniel Yarwood, Kyn.
Strathfieldsaye v Castlemaine
3 Charles Dole, S’saye; 2 Harry Teasdale, S’saye; 1 Ryan Duncan, S’saye.
Eaglehawk v Gisborne
3 Jacob Greenwood, Eh; 2 Tom Wood, Gis.; 1 Mark Storey, Eh.
Golden Square v Sandhurst
3 Macey Eaton, GS; 2 Tanner Rayner, GS; 1 Patrick O’Farrell, Sh.
Kangaroo Flat v Maryborough
3 Tim Brooks, KF; 2 Matthew Wiegard, KF; 1 Josh Leersen, KF.
Round 13
Castlemaine v Eaglehawk
3 Bailey Ilsley, Eh; 2 Zack Bulger, Eh; 1 Jack Lawton, Eh.
Gisborne v Kangaroo Flat
3 Tom Wood, Gis.; 2 Matthew Jinkins, Gis.; 1 Ollie Messaoudi, Gis.
Sandhurst v Strathfieldsaye
3 Harry Teasdale, S’saye; 2 Wade Kinniburgh, S’saye; 1 Shannon Murphy, S’saye.
South Bendigo v Golden Square
3 Dale Lowry, GS; 2 Drew Barrett, GS; 1 Macey Eaton, GS.
Maryborough v Kyneton
3 Ryan Pretty, Kyn.; 2 Tyrie Agnew, Kyn.; 1 Luke Beattie, Kyn.
Round 14
Kangaroo Flat v Castlemaine
3 Jake Lyons, KF; 2 Ryan Savy, KF; 1 Thomas Wilson, Cm.
Eaglehawk v Strathfieldsaye
3 Jacob Greenwood, Eh; 2 Jack Daley, Eh; 1 Carson James, S’saye.
Kyneton v Gisborne
3 Boyd Nalder, Gis.; 2 Darcy Harris, Kyn.; 1 Anthony Belcher, Gis.
Sandhurst v South Bendigo
3 Harrison Monk, Sh; 2 Luke Crawford, Sh; 1 Patrick O’Farrell, Sh.
Golden Square v Maryborough
3 Alex Jenkyn, GS; 2 Jordan Salathiel, GS; 1 Robert Muscat, Mb.
Round 15
Strathfieldsaye v South Bendigo
3 Charles Dole, S’saye; 2 Jordan Wilson, S’saye; 1 Matt Harvey, S’saye.
Castlemaine v Kyneton
3 Ryan Pretty, Kyn.; 2 Mitchell Johns, Kyn.; 1 Daniel Yarwood, Kyn.
Eaglehawk v Kangaroo Flat
3 Liam Drummond, Eh; 2 Jacob Greenwood, Eh; 1 Zack Bulger, Eh.
Gisborne v Golden Square
3 Boyd Nalder, Gis.; 2 Kieryn McKemmish, GS; 1 Adam Brancatisano, Gis.
Maryborough v Sandhurst
3 Jack Stevens, Sh; 2 Charlie Robinson, Sh; 1 Luke Crawford, Sh.
Round 16
Kyneton v Eaglehawk
3 Brody Brown, Eh; 2 Mark Storey, Eh; 1 Darcy Harris, Kyn.
Kangaroo Flat v Strathfieldsaye
3 Boden Alexander, S’saye; 2 Jordan Wilson, S’saye; 1 Carson James, S’saye.
Sandhurst v Gisborne
3 Connor Sexton, Sh; 2 Boyd Nalder, Gis.; 1 Heath Simpson, Gis.
South Bendigo v Maryborough
3 Will Purcell, SB; 2 Austin Long, SB; 1 Robert Muscat, Mb.
Golden Square v Castlemaine
3 Jordan Salathiel, GS; 2 Ben Parkes, GS; 1 Mitchell Treacy, GS.
Round 17
Kangaroo Flat v Kyneton
3 Jarryd Wiegard, KF; 2 Tim Leahy, KF; 1 Ryan Pretty, Kyn.
Gisborne v South Bendigo
3 Connor Bills, Gis.; 2 Rohan Nicol, Gis.; 1 Zac Chahine, Gis.
Castlemaine v Sandhurst
3 Jack Keating, Sh; 2 Campbell McLennan, Cm; 1 Connor Sexton, Sh.
Eaglehawk v Golden Square
3 Ben Parkes, GS; 2 Mark Storey, Eh; 1 Ryan Wellington, Eh.
Strathfieldsaye v Maryborough
3 Jai Featherby, S’saye; 2 Carson James, S’saye; 1 Jye Stephens, S’saye.
Round 18
South Bendigo v Castlemaine
3 Joshua Lea, SB; 2 Liam Shiell, SB; 1 Albert Whiteley, Cm.
Kyneton v Strathfieldsaye
3 Ryan Duncan, S’saye; 2 Rhys Zera, S’saye; 1 Ryan Pretty, Kyn.
Sandhurst v Eaglehawk
3 William Moran, Sh; 2 Bailey Ilsley, Eh; 1 Connor Sexton, Sh.
Golden Square v Kangaroo Flat
3 Jarryd Wiegard, KF; 2 Brad Eaton, GS; 1 Dean Norris, GS.
Maryborough v Gisborne
3 Elijah Bretherton, Gis.; 2 Hayden Doricic, Gis.; 1 Boyd Nalder, Gis.