GSFL OPINION: Hard to see anyone upsetting Zach Jackson or Matt Palfrey in this year’s Kleemann Medal race

This year’s race for the Kleemann Medal as the Great Southern Football League’s best-and-fairest player is turning into a terrific battle, with Zach Jackson and Matt Palfrey the clear frontrunners. Many had Jackson as a red-hot favourite heading into the second half the season but Palfrey, who played State country footy on Saturday, has enjoyed a superb month to catapult him into calculations. Voting for the coaches’ player of the year and the Advertiser footballer of the year will be silent for the final three rounds and if that polling is anything to go by, there could be just a couple of votes between the dynamic duo after 12 rounds. Palfrey was a joint winner of the Kleemann Medal back in 2020 and is a proven vote-getter in the GSFL’s highest individual honour. He holds a slender lead in both awards going into the final three rounds of the regular season. It has been a superb season from the Railways star, who has played 10 games after missing round one because of COVID and then last weekend for State duties. Palfrey’s season so far has been better than when he tied with Kane Shephard for the prestigious medal. The reason is this year Palfrey has played almost more minutes as a midfielder than as his usual role as a key forward. He has kicked 41 goals so far but his impact further up the field has been huge, and something that is not likely to go unnoticed from the umpires. Palfrey will have a lot of three-vote performances, two six-goal games in July and also his efforts of nine goals against Denmark-Walpole and six up against Royals earlier on are just four games that spring to mind. Jackson has been a superb acquisition for Mt Barker and the older brother of highly sought after AFL rising star Luke Jackson is making his own headlines. A talented midfielder, Jackson was pushed forward early in the season after a hamstring injury and has dominated a host of games as a result. While he has returned to the middle and now splits his time in attack and as a midfielder, Jackson has been on fire in front of the big sticks. He’s played all 12 games for the Bulls this season and has 46 goals to his name, including three bags of five goals or more. A scintillating 12-goal effort against the Magpies and then two best-afield displays against the Kangas with six and eight goals respectively. He accumulates the footy and pushes forward to have impact on the scoreboard — the stuff that wins you games and votes from the umpires. It is not secret that Jackson’s red-hot form has helped the Bulls rise to become a genuine premiership contender this season. Despite being a new player to the GSFL, Jackson’s influence on games has him firmly in the frame to win the Kleemann Medal and there is no doubt he will hold an early lead in voting. Palfrey leads the Advertiser award by two votes and in the 5-4-3-2-1 system of the coaches’ title he also holds a slender five-vote advantage. Casting the eye across the rest of the competition and there have been some other really significant players in 2022. Tigers ball winner Ryan Davies looms as the main danger to pinching votes from Palfrey, as he too is enjoying a wonderful season in the middle of the ground. Albany midfielder star Fraser Eaton has enjoyed a breakout season and should be duly rewarded in voting. Magpies stalwart Tyler Stone has been a shining light in a lowly season for his club, attracting big sets of coaches’ votes even in heavy defeats. Sharks defender Kane Pinney is another to really light up his first season in the GSFL. The Lions’ best prospect is exciting midfielder Zak Mola, especially early in the season when he was arguably in the best two or three players getting around, while David Parker has had a really solid month. Sharks veteran Brett Peake, North Albany clearance specialist Jyrin Woods and Bulls duo Josh Price and Joel Gray are other names that should be prominent. The final three rounds have plenty on the line for teams collectively but you get the sense the Kleemann Medal is there to be won over the next three weekends as well.