UGSFL 2024: Narrogin midfielder Tom Kilpatrick wins first Leo Graham Medal to highlight UGSFL awards night

Star Narrogin ball-winner Tom Kilpatrick capped off a brilliant season by winning the 2024 Leo Graham Medal to be crowned the Upper Great Southern Football League’s best and fairest. On Monday night, players, coaches and executives from across the league converged at Katanning Leisure Centre for the annual award ceremony to celebrate the outstanding individual performances of some of the league’s stars. A runaway winner, Kilpatrick finished with 28 votes to win the coveted gong, seven votes clear of his nearest rival Kyle Shanahan of Williams. Dynamic Boddington duo Lloyd Padwick and Riley Smith were equal-third with 15 votes, while fellow Eagle Harry Cabalzar (14 votes) rounded out the top five. Padwick also took home the Ross Ditchburn Trophy for the league’s leading goal kicker after booting an astounding 83 majors throughout the season and was awarded his Nutrien Agriculture Solutions Country Football Championships All-Star jersey. Kilpatrick, who has played colts for South Fremantle, said he loves country football and playing with his teammates and he never expected to win the medal. “I’m surprised but it feels awesome and it’s a massive honour to win this award,” Kilpatrick said. “I didn’t think I was going to win but as soon as it came to round 12 and I had polled a few votes I was getting more confident. “It was a good season and I really enjoyed playing.” He thanked his teammates, coaches, family, and people who work in the background to ensure country football remains thriving so he and other young boys could have these opportunities. Kilpatrick also clinched the Big K Promotions/Radio Great Southern ‘Footballer of the Year’ award with 23 votes, eight ahead of runner-up Boddington’s Riley Smith. The Life Member’s Medal for the reserves fairest and best went to Corey Eades from Brookton-Pingelly with 21 votes who accepted the award proudly and said during his speech he appreciated all the support he had been given throughout the season. Rising star Dylan Boyce from Wagin won the Michael Kain Trophy for the reserves leading goal kicker with 50 goals. Boddington received the Tom O’Neill Memorial Shield as the league’s minor premiers and Williams won the Don Anderson Memorial Shield as champion club. The Lorraine Pillage Memorial Award for the best administered club went to Kukerin-Dumbleyung. Perrin Quartermaine was the second Hawks member to shine a positive light on the club for his magnificent work with C-grade, earning him the Max Chivell Award as the region’s volunteer of the year. 2024 Leo Graham Medal leaderboard 28: Tom Kil[patrick (Narrogin) 21: Kyle Shanahan (Williams) 15: Lloyd Padwick (Boddington) Riley Smith (Boddington) 14: Harry Cabalzar (Boddington) 12: Ryan Melvin (Wickepin) 11: Simon Panizza (Williams) Daniel Trevaskis (Brookton-Pingelly) 10: Henry Gould (Narrogin) 9: Jye Depane (Kukerin-Dumbleyung)