By Colin MacGillivray
Kilmore footballer Chris Ryall stamped himself among the club’s greats with his second straight Northern Football Netball League division three best and fairest last week, also taking out the coaches’ MVP during the vote count at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.
Ryall polled 22 votes in 16 games to win the best and fairest by two votes from Laurimar’s Luke Wilson, adding to his trophy cabinet after becoming the first Kilmore player to win the award last year.
He also withstood a challenge from South Morang’s Bailey Brown to win the division three MVP, which is voted on by the league’s coaches.
Ryall received 77 votes, with teammate Chris Barton – who won the 2021 MVP – finishing fifth.
The 23-year-old midfielder said he was honoured to receive the accolades.
“You could have looked at any of those other boys who finished in the top five who were probably equally as deserving,” he said.
“We had Leigh [Irons] and ‘Barto’ obviously polling well as well.
“It all clicks and works together with us. They make me better and I like to think I make them a little bit better too.”
Ryall paid tribute to outgoing Kilmore coach Nathan Phillips, as well as new senior coach Paul Derrick and the club’s administration and volunteers.
“I really love playing at Kilmore. They’ve got such a good culture out there and a lot of good blokes,” he said.
“It’s fun to play there, and when you’re enjoying it, your on-field performance clicks.”
Kilmore president Paul Maher said it was a great night for the club, with Alex Vasilevski finishing in a three-way tie to claim his second consecutive division three reserves best and fairest, with Michael Fenech tying for runner-up.
Youngsters Lachlan Chesher and Cole Isbister also finished tied for third place in the division two under 19 vote count.
“For Chris to take out the double with the best and fairest and the MVP was a huge achievement,” Maher said.
“Not only is he a great footballer, he’s also a great person. He’s a very impressive young man.”
Maher said the Blues were fortunate to have Ryall, who hails from Ariah Park in New South Wales.
“He boarded at Assumption College in year 11 and 12 a few years back, and after finishing school he went to Caulfield and won a best and fairest,” Maher said.
“Then fortunately he was going out with a Kilmore lass, which brought him back up to Kilmore. That worked out well for us.”
While none of Kilmore’s netballers picked up individual awards, Maher said the club was proud of their achievements in 2022.
