GSFL 2024: Royals star Declan McNamara takes lead in coaches’ votes as battle between top four heats up

Royals ball magnet Declan McNamara has swiftly taken the lead in the Great Southern Football League’s coaches’ player of the year award as the battle between the top four ramps up. Nine rounds in just three votes separate the top four after McNamara — previously fourth — assumed the lead after collecting nine votes in the Lions’ 96-point mauling of Denmark-Walpole on Saturday. Last week’s leader and Railways midfielder Ryley Valli slid to second after a quiet outing against Albany on Sunday, who boasted third-placed Isaac Baum (40 votes) and fourth-placed Bailey Taylor (39), who each picked up three votes. Sharks star rebounding half-back Kane Pinney was sublime in the encounter and gained his second perfect 10-vote game of the season and sits just outside the top 10 with 24 votes. Pinney was everywhere across halfback in Sharks’ classy 64-point win over the Tigers and was also awarded three Albany Advertiser Footballer of the Year votes. Mt Barker gun Zach Jackson is closing the gap on the top four with 31 votes after his seven-goal haul against North Albany on Saturday earned him nine votes, while teammate Tyreice Brown was also awarded nine votes. Each league coach votes 5-4-3-2-1 for players on both sides at the end of every game for the GSFL Coaches’ Player of the Year Award. 2024 Great Southern Football League Coaches’ Player of the Year Award Leaderboard 42: Declan McNamara (ROY) 41: Ryley Valli (RAIL) 40: Isaac Baum (ALB) 39: Bailey Taylor (ALB) 31: Zach Jackson (MB) 29: Bailey Bennett (RAIL) 27: Daniel Patching (MB) Stephen Beal (ROY) 26: Jayden Scott (RAIL) Bryce Blaszkow (ALB) 24: Kane Pinney (ALB) VOTING Round 7 Royals v Denmark-Walpole Darrell Panizza 5 - Zak Mola (ROY) 4 - Declan McNamara (ROY) 3 - Jaiden Mole (ROY) 2 - Stephen Beal (ROY) 1 - Marlon Mastalerz (DW) Brad Nisbett 5 -Declan McNamara (ROY) 4 -Jaiden Mole (ROY) 3 -Zak Mola (ROY) 2 - Brayden Parker (ROY) 1 - Teague Valli (ROY) Mt Barker v North Albany Brad Hook 5 - Zach Jackson (MB) 4 - Tyreice Brown (MB) 3 - Jye Williss (MB) 2 - Ashley Wallam (MB) 1 - Jyrin Woods (NA) Brad Bootsma 5 - Tyreice Brown (MB) 4 -Zach Jackson (MB) 3 -Jye Williss (MB) 2 -Ashley Wallam (MB) 1 - Barry Roberts (NA) Railways v Albany Bodhi Stubber 5 - Kane Pinney (ALB) 4 - Mitch Collier (ALB) 3 - Bailey Taylor (ALB) 2 - Declan Willey (RAIL) 1 - Bryce Blaszkow (ALB) Jamie Ramm 5 - Kane Pinney (ALB) 4 - Aiden Clark (ALB) 3 - Isaac Baum (ALB) 2 - Beau Ewen (RAIL) 1 - Mitch Collier (ALB)