A STANDOUT performance in East Geelong’s final round win over Corio has seen star ruck Tim McLennan claim the Neville Whitley Medal as GDFL best-and-fairest.

McLennan polled 22 votes to finish one clear of Inverleigh star Luke Wilson on 21, with 2018 winner, Bell Post Hill speedster Matt James, registering another podium finish on 20 votes.

Bannockburn ruck/forward Kieran Fulton (19 votes), who was ineligible due to suspension, and Corio co-coach Joel Bennett (18) rounded out the top five vote-getters.

Entering the final round, five players were still in contention for the medal, with McLennan and Wilson on 19, Bennett was one vote further back on 18, while James and Panthers skipper Jack Yates were on 17.

Geelong West forward Blake Dye was on 16, but he didn’t play against Bell Post Hill in the final round.

Amazingly, McLennan, who has played 83 of a possible 84 games since arriving from Bellarine club Drysdale in 2017, didn’t open his account until Round 8.

However, he was rarely far from the umpires’ minds from then on, featuring on their vote cards in eight of the final 11 rounds to become the

McLennan is the first Eagle to win the award since Andy Challis topped the count in 2014.
Pre-count favourite Matt Tyquin finished tied for 9th on 13 votes, while league-leading goalkicker Will Ford, who was ineligible due to a mid-season suspension, polled 12 votes.