WINNERS of the Loddon Valley league’s football and netball best-and-fairest awards have both failed to win their clubs’ vote.
Bridgewater coach Lachie Sharp won the Frank Harding Medal for the football league best-and-fairest player, while Mitiamo’s Amelia Ludeman took out the league’s Helen Ward Medal for A Grade netball.
However, century goalkicker Sharp was beaten for the Mean Machine best  by midfielder Luke Ellings, while veteran goaler Laura Hicks won the Superoos’ award ahead of runner-up Ludeman.
Field umpires nominate the best players in the league awards, while the club championships are decided by internal voting.
Ellings, who finished three votes behind Sharp in the league medal, polled 117 votes in the club count to finish ahead of his coach’s 105 and third placegetter Jack Neylon.
At Mitiamo, Hicks’ 70 votes saw her win the club award by 13 votes.
Both she and Ludeman were named in the league’s Team of the Year as the Superoos went back-to-back as premiers.
Re-appointed coach Luke Lougoon won the football award by the length of the straight, with 99 votes, ahead of Zach Morrison’s 46.
Inglewood’s best went to midfielder Bregon Cotchett (90 votes) ahead of Harry Veitch (54 votes) as the Woodies celebrated a terrific season.
Both players were named in the Loddon Valley Team of the Year, with Cotchett averaging 24.2 disposals (13.3 of them contested) and 6.5 clearances over the season.
Veitch’s statistics were even more impressive, averaging 29.9 disposals (15.7 contested) and nine clearances.
He also won the Woodies’ best-in-finals award, averaging more than 30 disposals in the team’s run from fifth spot on the ladder to the preliminary final.
The A Grade netball side failed to win a match this season, but the best-and-fairest title was a close run thing, with Lily Wynne’s 38 votes just shading Teresa Fitzpatrick’s 36.
High-leaping utility Kai Daniels won the Pyramid Hill best-and-fairest award from Archie Hildebrandt.
Just four votes separated Morgan Dingwall and Jess Holdstock in the Bulldogs’ A Grade best and fairest.
Ruckman Will Copland won Newbridge’s best ahead of versatile Caleb Sanders.
League A Grade best-and-fairest runner-up Hayley Martiniello won the club award for her excellent season in the centre for the Maroons