GSFL 2023: Midfield star Daniel Patching emerges as front runner to take out this year’s Kleemann Medal

Four of the six Great Southern Football League coaches have predicted Mt Barker’s Daniel Patching to win this year’s Kleemann Medal. The Advertiser queried all six league coaches for their predictions with Albany coach Jamie Ramm, Royals’ Andrew Ruck, Denmark-Walpole’s Brad Nisbett and Bulls’ Brad Hook among those who expect the smooth midfielder to finish on top in the 65th edition of the Henry Kleemann vote count at Retravision Stadium on Monday night. Patching has been a terrific contributor in a side that surprised plenty of people this season, helping guide the Bulls to a finals campaign in his first year playing full-time in the GSFL. Tigers’ Jayden Scott also features in five of the six coaches’ top three with his coach Mark Bayliss tipping him to finish first. Last year’s winner Zach Jackson is Hooks tip for second place while North Albany coach Brad Bootsma expects Sharks star Isaac Baum to poll enough votes to claim the top honour. Bootsma believes speedy wingman Robbie Lee will finish in third spot while Nisbett has the Sharks’ gun finishing second with Ramm also tipping him as an outside chance. Magpies’ coach Nisbett believes Patching will finish first with Scott in third and Tigers’ forward Joel Want as his outside chance. Jackson was a joint winner in last year’s count with Tigers star Matt Palfrey. Scott led the Albany Advertiser Footballer of the Year Award when voting went silent in the last three rounds with Baum, Joel Want and Patching following closely behind. Injured Railways midfielder Logan Stubber led the race for the 2023 Coaches’ Player of the Year Award at the end of round 12. Four votes in the game he was injured in against Mt Barker shot Stubber to 58 votes, clear of Albany’s Baum (49 votes) in second. Patching (41) and Bryce Blaszkow (41) were close behind in equal third. The Kleemann Medal is the highlight of Monday’s awards, where the Charlie Punch Medal for the best reserves player is also announced alongside the Albany Advertiser Footballer of the Year Award, the Coaches Player of the Year Award, and the highly debated GSFL Team of the Year. Kleemann Medal predictions Jamie Ramm - Albany coach 1- Daniel Patching 2- Jayden Scott 1- Isaac Baum Roughie- Robbie Lee Mark Bayliss - Railways coach 1- Jayden Scott 2- Isaac Baum 3- Ryan Flick Roughie- Bodhi Stubber Andrew Ruck - Royals coach 1- Daniel Patching 2- Jayden Scott 3- Isaac Baum Roughie- Corey Ward Brad Hook - Mt Barker coach 1- Daniel Patching 2- Zach Jackson 3- Jayden Scott Roughie- Jyrin Woods Brad Bootsma - North Albany coach 1- Isaac Baum 2- Daniel Patching 3- Robbie Lee Roughie- Nathan Crudeli Brad Nisbett - Denmark-Walpole coach 1- Daniel Patching 2- Robbie Lee 3- Jayden Scott Roughie- Joel Want Cameron Newbold - Albany Advertiser sports editor 1- Isaac Baum 2- Jayden Scott 3- Daniel Patching Roughie- Stephen Beal Calvin Sims - Albany Advertiser sports reporter 1- Jayden Scott 2- Daniel Patching 3- Isaac Baum Roughie- Darcy Wallinger