By David Nagel
Being the most valuable player at your own club doesn’t necessarily translate to being the best player in the competition; but Nar Nar Goon captain Trent Armour is making a pretty good fist of both categories in West Gippsland footy this season.
We’ve crunched the numbers, according to votes provided by clubs on PlayHQ this year, and come up with a list of the top-100 most valuable players in the competition.
We’ve awarded six votes for best on ground, all the way down to a single vote for the player listed sixth on their club’s weekly best player’s list.
Of course clubs don’t always treat their vote-giving rights with respect; but it’s the best guide we have without access to intricate team statistics that clubs understandably hold close to their chests.
Armour has had an incredibly consistent season, polling 57 votes; where 72 votes from 12 games would be considered the perfect season.
The tough-as-nails midfielder has chalked up three best on grounds, and has seven times been rated the second best player for Nar Nar Goon.
The only game where he hasn’t received votes was against Bunyip in round two, when the Goon had an easy time of things in a 259-point thumping of Bunyip.
Easy football; well it’s obviously not Armour’s thing!
Bunyip’s Alex Dijkstra is the next most valuable player, with the 2023 best and fairest winner once again standing out from the pack with 48 votes from 11 games played.
Dijkstra has six times been adjudged the Bulldogs most effective player, but interestingly enough hasn’t polled votes in his two most recent games of football.
Korumburra-Bena’s Kye Benson is another to standout in a losing side, accumulating 46 votes for the Giants, while Inverloch-Kongwak import Paul Pattison has proven himself a star signing for the Sea Eagles.
The classy midfielder has attracted 45 votes this season, one clear of Korumburra-Bena coach Josh Hopkins and Phillip Island star Hayden Bruce.
Rounding out the top 10 are high-quality performers in Jimmy Munro, Matt Buntine, Travis Tuck, Mitch Hallahan and Cora Lynn ruck Billy Thomas.
A full list of the top-100 players can be found in this week’s Pakenham Gazette.
