A pair of South Barwon teammates have made Geelong Football League history, finishing as joint winners in Wednesday night’s Mathieson Medal count.
Swans duo Matt Caldow and Fraser Fort both topping the count to take out the league’s highest individual honour, finishing on 22-votes each.
It’s the first time since North Shore teammates Jason McGowan and Glenn Keast took out the award in a four-way tie in 1995 that two players from the same club have won the medal.
But it’s the first time ever two teammates have solely shared the award.
Colac’s Bailey Scott rounded out the top three of the 2023 count, finishing three-votes behind the Swans pair on 19 votes.
South Barwon first-year coach Mark Neeld was named Coach of the Year, leading the Swans to a Grand Final after they missed the finals entirely last year.
Colac was the most-represented team in the Coaches’ Team of the Year with six players named.
Skipper Jack Melican and Jarryn McCormack were picked in defence, while two Tigers were named on the wings in Darcy Lang and Scott, Adam Garner was named at forward pocket while Zach Zdybel was named as the ruckman.
It’s a good start to Grand Final week for the Swans, who take on Leopold in the GFL decider and Memorial Park on Saturday – the match will be broadcast live on K rock Football from 12pm and can be heard on FM 95.5 across Geelong & the Surf Coast or via krockfootball.live, with live streaming via aflbarwon.com.au.
MATHIESON MEDAL LEADERBOARD:
=1: Fraser Fort (South Barwon)
=1. Matt Cladow (South Barwon)
3. Bailey Scott (Colac)
=4. Logan Wagener (Leopold)
=4. Ryan Abbott (Grovedale)
=6. Harry Benson (St. Mary’s)
=6. Marcus Thompson (Leopold)
=8. Paddy de Grandi (St. Joseph’s)
=8. Zach Zdybel (Colac)
=10. Darcy Lang (Colac)
=10. Jospeh Salmon (North Shore)
=10. Lachlan Patten (Bell Park)
