Gippsland League celebrated the outstanding achievements of its footballers, netballers, volunteers and clubs on Monday night, with the 2026 Presentation Night held at the Morwell Bowling Club.
The night recognised the competition’s major individual award winners across all football and netball grades, while the 2026 Football and Netball Teams of the Year, Rookie of the Year recipients and Joe Hutchinson Award winners were also announced.
Moe star Myles Poholke claimed two of the night’s major Senior Football honours, taking home the Senior Best & Fairest and Senior MVP awards following another outstanding season.
Leongatha spearhead Jenson Garnham was crowned the Senior Leading Goalkicker.
In A Grade Netball, Drouin’s Mwai Kumwenda Mbwana completed a brilliant season by winning the A Grade Best & Fairest and A Grade Shooting Star, while Moe’s Jordan Pyle was recognised as the A Grade MVP.
Award Winners
Senior Football
Senior Best & Fairest: Myles Poholke (Moe)
Senior MVP: Myles Poholke (Moe)
Senior Leading Goalkicker: Jenson Garnham (Leongatha)
A Grade Netball
A Grade Best & Fairest: Mwai Kumwenda Mbwana (Drouin)
A Grade MVP: Jordan Pyle (Moe)
A Grade Shooting Star: Mwai Kumwenda Mbwana (Drouin)
Reserves Football
Best & Fairest: Jake Bowden (Moe)
Leading Goalkicker: Lachie Wright (Leongatha)
B Grade Netball
Best & Fairest: Courtney Young (Wonthaggi)
Shooting Star: Elise Demczuk (Moe)
C Grade Netball
Best & Fairest: Renee Moss (Moe)
Shooting Star: Taylah Voumard (Moe)
Thirds Football
Best & Fairest: Brodie Adams (Traralgon)
Leading Goalkicker: Fraser Aubrey (Moe)
17 & Under Netball
Best & Fairest: Olivia Pearson (Bairnsdale)
Shooting Star: Taylah Voumard (Moe)
Fourths Football
Best & Fairest: Noah Bradley (Leongatha)
Leading Goalkickers: Louis Read (Leongatha) and Sullivan Jennings (Moe)
15 & Under Netball
Best & Fairest: Harper de Dios (Traralgon)
Shooting Star: Quote Nhial (Moe)
13 & Under Netball
Best & Fairest: Aurora Snowden (Moe)
2026 Football Team of the Year
The best performers from across the Senior Football competition were also recognised with selection in the 2026 Gippsland League Football Team of the Year.
FB: Isaac Chugg, Sean Masterson, Tye Hourigan
HB: Joel Scholtes, Kyle Reid, Cooper Vickery
C: Joshua Bates, Tom Marriott, Brodie Atkins
HF: Tyran Rees, Seth Smith, Sebastiano Amoroso
FF: Harrison Pepper, Jenson Garnham, Riley D'Arcy
FOLL: Jack Sheridan, Myles Poholke, Tom Hobbs
INT: James Harmes, Kim Drew, Blake Mullane, Cooper McInnes, Matt Northe, Aidan Quigley
Coach: Leigh Poholke (Moe)
Captain: Tom Marriott (Leongatha)
2026 Netball Team of the Year
The league’s leading A Grade netballers were honoured with selection in the 2026 Gippsland League Netball Team of the Year.
GK: Jordan Pyle (Moe)
GD: Sally Deller (Bairnsdale)
WD: Gemma Meadley (Leongatha)
C: Stacie Gardiner (Drouin)
WA: Alex Moody (Moe)
GA: Anna Mooney (Bairnsdale)
GS: Mwai Kumwenda Mbwana (Drouin)
Interchange: Ash Mawer (Moe), Jayde Parsons (Maffra), Alison Dwyer (Bairnsdale), Ash Keefe (Sale), Sienna Green (Warragul)
Coach: Alex Moody (Moe)
Captain: Sally Deller (Bairnsdale)
Rookie of the Year
Some of the competition’s brightest emerging talent was recognised through the 2026 Rookie of the Year awards.
Football
Winner: Brodie Atkins (Drouin)
Nominees: Jasper Shone (Wonthaggi), Jonah Walker (Bairnsdale), Max Stobie (Maffra), Jaxon Foon (Wonthaggi), Rylie Baker (Drouin)
Netball
Winners: Mahli Stothers (Sale) and Marley Wallace (Traralgon)
Nominees: Tilly Fox (Maffra), Lara Noblett (Traralgon), Olivia Oracz (Wonthaggi), Jordan O'Connor (Bairnsdale)
Joe Hutchinson Award
Each Gippsland League club also recognised an outstanding contributor with the Joe Hutchinson Award.
Bairnsdale: Jon Carter
Drouin: Lucy McKellar
Leongatha: Darryl McGannon
Maffra: Bridget Kelly
Moe: Ken Beath
Morwell: Norm Bailey
Sale: Simon Turnbull
Traralgon: Bev Lockett
Warragul: David Carpenter
Wonthaggi: Rebecca Farrell
Club Awards
Club Championship
Traralgon Football Netball Club
Most Disciplined Club – Football & Netball
Drouin Football Netball Club
Gippsland League congratulates all award winners, nominees and Team of the Year selections on their achievements throughout the 2026 season and thanks the players, coaches, officials, volunteers and clubs who continue to contribute to football and netball across Gippsland.
