GSFL 2024: Five votes separate the top five in GSFL Coaches’ Player of the Year after five completed rounds

Alan Barnett medallist Kane Pinney’s love affair with Sounness Park has continued, polling a perfect 10 coaches’ votes in round five of the Great Southern Football League season.

Despite reigning premiers Albany suffering a shock loss to Mt Barker, Pinney polled 10 votes for his performance on Saturday.

It came at the same ground that he last year was named best-on-ground as the Sharks secured a breakthrough league premiership.

Bulls midfielder star Daniel Patching holds a slender lead over a pack of chasing rivals in the GSFL Coaches’ Player of the Year award after five rounds, following his superb start to 2024.

Patching, who is yet to earn top five votes from any game this season, holds a slender one-vote lead ahead of Royals midfielder Declan McNamara.

Sitting at the top with 26 votes, Patching has been extremely consistent across his side’s 3-2 start to the year, polling votes in every game.

The ball magnet earned just one vote — from his coach Brad Hook — in the upset over the Sharks, allowing his rivals to close the gap to him at the top of the leaderboard.

Just five votes separate the top five, with McNamara breathing down Patching’s neck after polling 18 votes in the past fortnight.

McNamara has enjoyed a sensational start to the season since returning from a long layoff with a serious knee injury.

He polled all 10 votes in the Lions’ crushing round four win over Denmark-Walpole, before adding another eight in their commanding victory over North Albany.

Classy Railways midfielder and joint Albany Advertiser Footballer of the Year leader Ryley Valli is third with 24 votes after collecting seven votes against the Magpies in round five.

Sharks gun recurit Bailey Taylor and his teammate Isaac Baum are tied for fourth with 21 votes.

Tigers silky ball user Bailey Bennett rounds out the top five with 18 votes, having missed two matches this season.

Talented Magpies youngster Marlon Mastalerz has 16 votes despite his side being winless, while gun forward Travis Conn (14 votes) is the highest-ranked North Albany player.

Each league coach votes 5-4-3-2-1 for players on both sides at the end of every game.

2024 Great Southern Football League Coaches’ Player of the Year Award Leaderboard

26: Daniel Patching (MB)

25: Declan McNamara (ROY)

24: Ryley Valli (RAIL)

21: Bailey Taylor (ALB)

Isaac Baum (ALB)

18: Bailey Bennett (RAIL)

17: Jayden Scott (RAIL)

16: Marlon Mastalerz (DW)

14: Robbie Lee (ALB)

Travis Conn (NA)

Bryce Blaszkow (ALB)

VOTING

Round 5

Royals v North Albany

Darrell Panizza

5 - Brock Higgins (ROY)

4 - Hamish McMorran (ROY)

3 - Declan McNamara (ROY)

2 - Kobi Keen (NA)

1 - Darcy Reader (ROY)

Brad Bootsma

5 - Declan McNamara (ROY)

4 - Stephen Beal (ROY)

3 - Brayden Parker (ROY)

2 - Jaiden Mole (ROY)

1 - Kobi Keen (NA)

Mt Barker v Albany

Brad Hook

5 - Kane Pinney (ALB)

4 - Kye Griffiths (MB)

3 - Brent Parsons (MB)

2 - Isaac Baum (ALB)

1 - Daniel Patching (MB)

Rogan Coffey

5 - Kane Pinney (ALB)

4 - Brent Parsons (MB)

3 - Bradon Ugle (MB)

2 - Tait McLean (ALB)

1 - Isaac Baum (ALB)

Railways v Denmark-Walpole

Bodhi Stubber

5 - Declan Willey (RAIL)

4 - Kane Shephard (RAIL)

3 - Jayden Scott (RAIL)

2 - Ryley Valli (RAIL)

1 - Brad Keast (DW)

Brad Nisbett

5 - Ryley Valli (RAIL)

4 - Jayden Scott (RAIL)

3 - Bodhi Stubber (RAIL)

2 - Milan Jaggi (RAIL)

1 - Kane Shephard (RAIL)