Coaches say it could be fully Frank

 

September 4 2009

Shepparton News

Cobram's Frank Bazzano could be in line for a third consecutive finish on top of the Goulburn North East Football Association best and fairest medal count this year after receiving the endorsement of opposition coaches.

Bazzano, who won the league medal for the first time last year after being ineligible in 2007, is one of the popular picks to poll well tomorrow night.

But Bazzano's own coach Rocky Papalia is expecting one of the closest counts ever, with none of the favourites ineligible for this year's award.

``The number of quality players means it will be a very hard decision for referees to make,'' Papalia said.

``I'd say Frank will be Cobram's best and then Ivo Madeira.

``Shepparton has their English guys (Andy Rushbury, Marquin Smith and Duncan Whitlam) and Andy Ingham who would be one of the favourites because he's played every game.''

Ingham backed league-leading scorer from Shepparton South Stuart Vance to poll well along with Shepparton's mid-season recruit in Smith.

``With Quinnie it's his work-rate,'' Ingham said.

``He's everywhere and always giving 110 per cent.''

Shepparton South coach Paul Amadei suggested Vance and midfielder Connor Campbell would poll well from his team, while Bazzano would be prominent.

Shepparton United coach Jason Mulkeen suggested Numurkah's Michael Gasparroni could be a dark horse from the winless Knights, while the likes of Vance and Campbell would be the favourites.

The women's count is also leaning towards a player from the top teams in the absence of last year's dominant winner Georgia Oudeman, formerly of Cobram Victory.

Oudeman polled 35 votes last year to win by seven from then-Shepparton United player Jess Theobald.

Both left the league at the end of the year.

It leaves last year's third-place winner Suzan Tanrikulu of Shepparton as one of the firm favourites.

``She was consistent every week, she's a team player who's happy to pass the ball off as well as score goals,'' Tanrikulu's teammate Sarah Balaburov said.

``Rosemary Scrimizzi (from Tatura) is an opposition player who has played well, she deserves to be up there.''

Balaburov, who missed the season through injury, suggested Kyabram's Anna Campanelli and Shepparton South's Sophie Findlay would poll well as would Shepparton's Jade Hawkes. Shepparton South coach Ralph Giuliani threw up names such as Cobram's Jacinta Dikkenberg, Shepparton United's Holly Dimstas and Maddy McGuffie from his own team.

``You'd say Maddy would be the stand-out and Sophie would have done very well if she'd played every game,'' Giuliani said.