GSFL 2024: Bailey Bennett holds slim lead in Albany Advertiser Footballer of the Year race after two rounds

Votes in the 2024 Albany Advertiser Footballer of the Year across the opening two rounds of the Great Southern Football League season have been revealed. Railways star midfielder and former Claremont Tiger Bailey Bennett holds a slim lead over a host of talented rivals after a stellar start to his season back at Tigerland. Bennett has delivered two near best-on-ground performances, polling two votes in each match despite an agonising loss to Royals after the siren last weekend. His outside run and slick ball use have typified the Tigers’ fast-paced ball movement and offensive flare. Breathing down his neck are teammate Ryley Valli, Albany star duo Bailey Taylor and Kaleb Germain, Mt Barker gun Zach Jackson, Royals key forward Hamish McMorran, and Denmark-Walpole half-back flanker Reagan Hutchinson, who have each polled a three-vote game through the opening two rounds. Round three is shaping up to be a cracking round of footy with, arguably, the match of the round between Retravision Stadium co-tenants when the Lions square off with the Sharks at 6pm. Having secured two victories each, the encounter shapes up as a salivating one under lights, with the winner moving clear at the top of the ladder The Kangas host the Magpies at Collingwood Park on Saturday at 2.30pm, with both teams chasing their first win of the season. The Kangas have not looked near it so far this season, conceding at least nine consecutive goals in both games this season, while the Magpies appeared to have turned a new leaf at the weekend, losing by just one point to Mt Barker after being handed a 112-point hiding by reigning premiers the Sharks in round one. The Bulls are afforded the luxury of not having to travel in successive weeks, with the Tigers heading on the road to Sounness Park on Saturday afternoon. Bouncedown is at 2.30pm, with the Bulls hoping to make it back-to-back victories, but they will be sweating on the fitness of gun midfielder Zach Jackson, who sustained a pectoral injury last week. The Tigers will be hoping to get back on to the winner’s list after going down to the Lions last weekend from a Hamish McMorran after-the-siren dagger. 2024 Albany Advertiser Footballer of the Year LEADERBOARD 4: Bailey Bennett (RAIL) 3: Ryley Valli (RAIL) Bailey Taylor (ALB) Zach Jackson (MB) Hamish McMorran (ROY) Reagan Hutchinson (DW) Kaleb Germain (ALB) 2: Bryce Blaszkow (ALB) Nic Ashford (ROY) Tyreice Brown (MB) Isaac Baum (ALB) 1: Jayden Scott (RAIL) Brett Peake (ALB) Joel Flick (ROY) Corey Ward (ROY) Daniel Patching (MB) Brock Anning (ALB) VOTING Round 1 North Albany v Railways 3 – Ryley Valli (RAIL) 2 – Bailey Bennett (RAIL) 1 – Jayden Scott (RAIL) Denmark-Walpole v Albany 3 – Bailey Taylor (ALB) 2 – Bryce Blaszkow (ALB) 1 – Brett Peake (ALB) Royals v Mt Barker 3 – Zach Jackson (MB) 2 – Nic Ashford (ROY) 1 – Joel Flick (ROY) Round 2 Railways v Royals 3 – Hamish McMorran (ROY) 2 – Bailey Bennett (RAIL) 1 – Corey Ward (ROY) Mt Barker v Denmark-Walpole 3 – Reagan Hutchinson (DW) 2 – Tyreice Brown (MB) 1 – Daniel Patching (MB) Albany v North Albany 3 – Kaleb Germain (ALB) 2 – Isaac Baum (ALB) 1 – Brock Anning (ALB)