Ruckman Mark Marriott has been included in the 10-strong list of names vying for the Morrison Medal, the GVL’s highest individual senior football accolade, after yet another superb season in which he confirmed his status as one of the league’s premier big men.
Alongside his selection in the GVL interleague side, Marriott averaged 16.9 disposals, 5.1 tackles, 5.9 clearances and a whopping 45.3 hit outs per game for the Saints, cementing himself as a bonafide star of the competition.
He will be up against some strong competition for the accolade, however, with fellow ruckman and 2024 Morrison medallist Ash Holland (Shepparton) also shortlisted, while 2025 runner-up Mitch Trewhella (Rochester) has also been named among the 10 favourites.
The Benalla nominations don’t stop there, either, with young gun Xavier Wapling also in line for silverware, having been named as one of 11 in line for the Pattison Medal as the under-18 football best and fairest.
The Morrison and Wellman Medal count is to be held at Tatura’s Ballantyne Centre on Monday, September 14.
The announcements come as the league also unveils a five-week finals format for season 2027, with the slightly-altered structure extending the current format by a week to reduce scheduling headaches.
While the current system itself will remain the same, the first week of finals won’t consist of a qualifying final.
Both elimination finals will have their own separate air time on Saturday and Sunday, with the qualifying final moved to a standalone clash the following week.
The winners of the elimination finals will rest until week three, where two semi-finals will take place under the same system - the qualifying final winner facing off against the highest ranked elimination final winner for a spot in the grand final, and a do-or-die final between the QF loser and lowest-ranked EF winner - before a week four preliminary final, and a week five grand final.
With the 150th anniversary cricket test match between Australia and England delaying the AFL’s start to the season in 2027, and thus a later grand final date as a by-product, the GVL will naturally be able to accommodate the extended finals series into the 2027 schedule, remaining as the Sunday before the AFL grand final.
The change hopes to alleviate logistical challenges and awkward scheduling for volunteers and clubs, as 11 out of 12 GVL clubs fielded finals sides in respective netball and football competitions this season.
Shortlisted Morrison Medal candidates
Mark Marriott (Benalla), Mitch Wales (Echuca), Zac Norris (Kyabram), Liam Betson, Keelin Betson (Mooroopna), Mitch Trewhella, Ryley Ferguson (Rochester), Dylan Cook (Seymour), Ash Holland (Shepparton), Angus Hicks (Shepparton United)
