With the on-field action for 2025 in the books, Goulburn Valley League club’s had only one order of business remaining to conclude the season proper - crown club best-and-fairest’s.
All 12 clubs have hosted their presentation nights, with back-to-back winners, first-time victors, and many more gathering to celebrate the season that has been.
So who has been judged each club’s senior football and netball champions? Let’s find out.
Benalla
Senior football: Mark Marriott
A-grade netball: Bridget Hill
Benalla’s top two will remain unchanged.
Saints ruckman Mark Marriott proved he's still a force to be reckoned with in 2025, securing his second John Martiniello medal with a stellar 100-hitout performance highlighting a remarkable season.
Defender Nick Warnock was runner-up in a year he also pulled on the interleague jumper.
Bridget Hill consolidated her status as one of the Saint's best in A-grade, also going back-to-back in the Robyn Smith Medal ahead of Olivia Dalton.
Echuca
Senior football: Mitch Wales
A-grade netball: Ash Hare (Mangan)
The Murray Bombers’ midfielder has been one of Echuca’s most consistent throughout its three-peat, but this year he was voted indisputably their best player with his maiden best-and-fairest gong.
In A-grade, evergreen defender Ash Hare will be lucky to find any spare real estate in the trophy cabinet – the three-time Wellman Medallist appears to have claimed her eighth career club best-and-fairest.
Euroa
Senior football: Lachie Hill
A-grade netball: Hollie Reid
He doesn’t play lawn bowls, but he can seriously play footy.
Euroa midfielder Lachie Hill has taken out the senior football best-and-fairest for the first time, establishing himself as one of the Pies’ best talents alongside runner-up Cohen Paul.
Hollie Reid has well and truly established herself as arguably the GVL’s premier midcourt player.
And with a second consecutive club best-and-fairest to go with her runner-up placing in the Wellman Medal, she continues to go from strength to strength.
Liv Morris placed second for the Pies after draining 1,000 goals for the season.
Kyabram
Senior football: Mick Mattingly
A-grade netball: Isla Carver
Who else but Mattingly?
The Kyabram champion won the Goulburn Valley League flag, Wilf Cox Medal, and a second club best-and-fairest to further establish himself as a Bombers great.
It didn’t go all Ky’s way in the netball, but young gun Isla Carver continues to be a shining light, going back-to-back after a super season in the Bombers’ midcourt in an identical one-two placing, with Abby Waasdorp again at the pointy end.
Mansfield
Senior football: Nick Gray & Callum Brown
A-grade netball: Emily Hutchins
It’s a tie at the top for the Eagles.
Morrison Medallist Callum Brown has thrived at his new club, adding the Mansfield best-and-fairest to his collection, while Nick Gray marked his return to the nest with top honours.
Meanwhile, Emily Hutchins nudged Sophie Bray in the A-grade netball award.
Mooroopna
Senior football: Jed Woods
A-grade netball: Dayna Williams
Midfielder Jed Woods translated last year’s 2024 runner-up placing into a maiden best-and-fairest, with Kai Madgwick and Ben Hicks tied for second.
Dayna Williams experienced VNL under-23 premiership glory while starring week-by-week for the Cats, a second consecutive best-and-fairest her reward for another big season in defence.
Rochester
Senior football: Mitch Trewhella
A-grade netball: Bridgitte McCarthy and Tia Webb
The tough Tigers midfielder was this season’s Morrison Medal runner-up and an unsurprising winner of Rochester’s best-and-fairest, although Hamish Hooppell gave it a red-hot crack as runner-up.
It was a tie in the Tigerettes count, however, with Bridgette McCarthy and Tia Webb sharing the honours.
Seymour
Senior football: Jack Murphy
A-grade netball: Ellie Fuhrmeister
Jack Murphy claimed the Gary Brown Medal ahead of last year’s winner Nathan Beattie in his maiden season as co-coach, an ever-reliable accumulator and ball user for the Lions.
Seymour goal-shooter Ellie Fuhrmeister also went back-to-back, while departing star Casey Adamson placed runner-up before hitting the road for Super Netball.
Shepparton United
Senior football: Kade Chalcraft
A-grade netball: Hannah Onley
The Dees have a first-time winner in returning star Kade Chalcraft, whose class was evident throughout the year to take out the club best-and-fairest and the GVL’s senior MVP award.
Co-coach Jesse Cucinotta was runner-up.
United’s A-grade side is seeing its young stars progress rapidly, with Hannah Onley claiming the club championship gong ahead of runner-up Grace McInneny.
Shepparton
Senior football: Ash Holland
A-grade netball: Kim Borger
No changes at the top for Shepparton.
Bears best-and-fairest incumbent Ash Holland further enhanced a glittering club legacy with not only his second consecutive award, but by also attaining Life Membership of the club he joined as a 16-year-old.
Dynamic midfielder-forward Luke Smith placed runner-up and took out the goal-kicking with 55 majors.
Meanwhile, all-conquering A-grade premiership captain and Wellman Medallist Kim Borger added the Bear's best-and-fairest to her collection, with Molly Kennedy capping off a productive season as runner-up.
Shepparton Swans
Senior football: Nathan Hrovat
A-grade netball: Chelsea McDonald
The Swans played GVL finals for the first time in a decade, and midfield maestro Nathan Hrovat had a big say in driving them there.
His influence was rewarded with the top spot in the senior footy best-and-fairest count, while returning netball star Chelsea McDonald wasted no time settling back in at the Swans with the A-grade medal.
Tatura
Senior football: Ben Darrou
A-grade netball: Molly Boyle
It was a tough season for Tatura, but versatile swingman Ben Darrou was a shining light.
The former VFL man’s first season at the Kennel ended with the senior best-and-fairest medal around his neck, beating defender Curt Ryan to the punch.
Experienced defender Molly Boyle played a big part in Tatura’s finals push, taking out the A-grade award ahead of Julia Clarke.