Newtown-Condingup’s Thomas McShane was the best player on the ground for the Lions in its 11 point win over the Blues in the EDFA’s League elimination final at Ports Oval on Sunday. McShane was influential in the last quarter making several goal saving intercept marks in the Lions backline. The win sees the Lions challenge the Tigers in the preliminary final at Esperance Oval tomorrow after Gibson were defeated on Saturday at Gibson Oval in the qualifying final by Esperance to the tune of 24 points. Photo: Greg Symes.
Esperance’s most prestigious individual football award, the Hepburn Medal, will be decided tomorrow night at the Esperance Bay Turf Club.
Newtown-Condingup vs Ports League. Photos: Greg Symes.
Many of the Association’s best players would like to have their name added to the list of past champions including the following on a club by club basis:
Gibson:
The Tigers had an outstanding 2025 season losing only the one qualifying game to Esperance so it will be no surprise to see the likes of Patrick Quinlivan, Jeremy Curry, Travis Stewart, Jordan McAllister and Cohen McCashney at the head of the pack. League coach Aogan McCallion polled well last year finishing third to Kaine Buckley and Patrick Jannings. The Tigers are blessed with no dominant standout player which will lead to sharing of the top votes in each match.
Esperance:
Brendon White from the Esperance Football Club, will be looking to join Craig Noble (1956,58,60), Ryan Neill (2001,07,08) and Buckley (2021,23,24) as a three time winner of the Hepburn Medal from the Bulldogs. White has been nothing short of sensational this season in the Esperance midfield kicking 22 goals including a haul of seven against the Lions in round three. Rhys Wood — runner up in 2023, always catches the umpires eye, youngster Tyson Graham shows promise and Sam Franzone kicked 33 goals from just nine appearances.
Ports Blues vs Esperance Bulldogs Women’s. Photo: Greg Symes.
Newtown-Condingup:
The Lions have struggled for wins this season making the chances of the medal heading to the Lion’s den slim. Captain Regan Morris always presents for the Lions and was runner-up in 2022 before returning to the Lions last season. Ben Leopold, Tyson Francis, Nathan Francis and Thomas McShane may attract votes from Morris on the Lions’ leaderboard.
Ports:
Like fellow strugglers Newtown-Condingup, a winner from the Blues camp would surprise. McArthur Medal winner in 2021 for the fairest and best in the Colts, Riley Mayfield should top the list for Ports. Colts-aged player Keenan Rymer was trusted with key roles beyond his years as defenders Zac Major and Tyson Gibson saw plenty of the ball in the Ports backline.
Ports vs Newtown-Condingup A-Reserves. Photo: Greg Symes.
Murray Medal (A-Reserves fairest and best):
Kyron McKenzie from the Esperance Football Club should enter the count as favourite after several best on ground displays in the A-Reserves earlier rounds. Gibson only dropped one match for the season, and the Tigers faithful will be hoping last season’s runner-up Ash Bowman will poll well again. Jake Barber always picks up votes from the umpires. Ports’ Issac Jones kicked 21 goals from 11 matches and look for Gibson’s David Macleay (16 goals from five matches) to make a charge late in the count.
Crawford Medal (Women’s fairest and best):
Rani Smart (2021,23) will lay claims to being the EDFAW’s most decorated player in its short history if she were to collect her third Crawford Medal on Saturday night. The undefeated Tigers boast firepower across all lines in the form of Smart, Ruby Hodges, Annie-May Jannings, Lilly Dalton and last year’s winner Alysha Castelli. Beatrice Crane from the Newtown-Condingup Football Club missed three matches representing WA at the School Sports Australia Games in Moreton Bay late last month but should still garner votes for the Lions. Niamh Murphy could poll well for Newtown-Condingup especially in the rounds of Crane’s absence.
