SPRALJA PIPS STAVROU TO WIN THE BOWEN-RALPH MEDAL. BENIFER BEST FOR WOX.

Old Xaverians farewelled season 2024 with a big night at Melbourne Public. Trophy winners were announced, the spoils distributed under the guidance of emcee Angus Sheedy, and after the formalities came the party.

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Alec 'Spag' Spralja cemented his position as one of the club greats when he won the Bowen-Ralph Medal for the Best and Fairest player in the senior men's team. The genial giant has grown in confidence and stature after making his senior debut in 2023. He played every game in the seniors this season and was considered unlucky not to be chosen for the Big V. Skipper Marcus Stavrou, who had won the previous three B&Fs, fell just short. Sam Fisher finished third in his frst year with the club.

The WOX Best and Fairest was won by Amy Benifer. The UK-born Benifer (above, with Coach Jeremy Sutcliffe) began with the WOX in 2018 and has played 75 games in Red 'n' Black. She has been named among the best on 37 occasions. In 2024, she featured in the best on 12 occasions from her 16 games.

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Full pictorial coverage from Ari Hatzis. TROPHIES and THE PARTY

CLUB AWARDS

William Denton Snr Perpetual Trophy: Rob Bergin

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'The Denton' has been awarded since 1989 to recognise significant off-field contribution to the Old Xaverians Football Club over a sustained period.

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Michael Rush Perpetual Trophy: Cristina Sgarbossa

'The Rush' has been awarded by the Life Members each year since 2006 to a player who has exhibited the outstanding qualities that made Mick Rush such a great man and integral part of the Old Xaverians Football Club. Winners of this award have displayed courage, unselfishness, working through injury and/or disappointment for the Club's best interests both on and off the field.

Allan Keane Cup (Best Performing Team): Crocodiles, 20-0 - Unbeaten, untied.

Presented to the team that has performed best durig the season. Named in honour of Dr Allan Keane, the club's first coach and captain in 1923, and later, the Xavs' first Life Member.

Terry Landrigan Medal (Men’s 1^st & 2nds Players' MVP): Marcus Stavrou and Hugh Basset (Tie)

Each week, each of the 22 players in both the Seniors and Reserves vote on a 3-2-1 basis for those teammates whom they consider their most valuable on the day. The votes are collected and tallied and the top vote-getter each week is assigned six votes, the next highest five votes, and then four, three, two, one. Combining the two teams enables players to poll in either team throughout the year. The award recognises the contribution to the Club, particularly the Seniors and Reserves, of Terry Landrigan. (see more about this new award here.)

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TEAM AWARDS

Senior Men

The Bowen-Ralph Medal for the Best and Fairest: Alec Spralja

Runner Up: Marcus Stavrou

Third: Sam Fisher

The Peter Rhoden Medal (Coaches Award): Alex Trigar

The O'Shaughnessy Medal for the Rising Star: Stirling Phipps-Parsons

Most Consistent: Sam Ralph

Reserves Men

B&F: Connor Dunne

Runner Up: Sam Turner

Equal Third: Hamish MacIsaac and Ben Scala

Coaches Award: Will Hart

Best in Finals: Hugh Basset

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Senior Women

B&F: Amy Benifer

Runner Up: Mel Clarke

Third: Alessandra Libertone

Coaches Award: Ella Neuwirth

Rising Star: Chiara Chiarelli

Reserves Women

B&F: Lucy Lentini

Runner Up: Katta Mullins

Third: Alessia Kapakoulakis

Coaches Award: Eliza Burnes

Best in Finals: Eliza Forrest

Under 19 Premier

The Brendan O'Sullivan Medal for the Best and Fairest: Harry Bird

Runner Up: Ed Dalton

Third: Tom Gorman

Coaches Award: Eddie Paul

Under 19 Reserves

B&F: James Spiridonos

Runner Up: Will Beattie

Third: Will Gossan

Coaches Award: Brooklyn Lindsay

Under 19 Thirds

B&F: Patrick Quilty

Runner Up: Michael Cannalonga

Third: Sam Turner

Coaches Award: Gerard Czerwik

Under 23s (Premier Thirds)

B&F: Jez Alexeyeff

Runner Up: Sam Asdagi

Third: Will Sheedy

Coaches Award: Harry Hosking

Best in Finals: Tom Mantesso

Menages (Thirds Div 1)

B&F: Will Mantesso

Runner Up: Oliver Silk

Third: Edward Bourke

Coaches Award: Blair Mantesso

Best in Finals: Bill Curtis

Crocodiles (Thirds Div 2)

The King-Landrigan Medal for Best and Fairest: Sean Stanley

Runner Up: Jacob Jones

Third: Josh Lyon

Coaches Award: Charlie Connors

Best in Finals: Will Veljkovic

Under 23 Res (Thirds Div 3)

B&F: Ed MacIsaac

Runner Up: Jack Shirley

Third: Tom Curtain

Coaches Award: Ned Lyons

Best in Finals: Charlie Anderson

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