Longwood's Jye Formosa won the 2026 McNamara Medal.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The Kyabram District League has brought the curtain down on its 2026 formalities with the competition’s presentation night taking place at the GV Hotel on Thursday evening.
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And its senior football best-and-fairest count had an extra twist in the tail.
Longwood captain Jye Formosa took out this season’s McNamara Medal with 19 votes, the Redlegs star’s exquisite season rewarded after featuring in his side’s best in 13 of the 16 games he played.
Since arriving at the club in 2023, Formosa has been one of the league’s most damaging midfielders in the competition, helping Longwood rise back up the ladder and again threaten for finals this year.
It’s not the first time Formosa has topped the vote count, but he was ruled ineligible to take out the 2023 award due to suspension.
This year, the opposite was true.
Nagambie’s Tom Barnes topped the vote count with 24 following a season where the Lakers spearhead booted 107 goals and ended with a premiership medal around his neck.
He too suffered the same fate as Formosa three years ago, ineligible to win due to suspension.
Murchison-Toolamba duo Aidan Lloyd and James Milne were joint runners-up with 16 votes apiece, while Hoppers’ sharpshooter James Lloyd and Lancaster’s Tom Davies rounded out a busy podium with 14.
KDFL Rnd 12 Merrigum vs Undera A Grade, Merrigum Recreation ReserveBreanna Baker
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Meanwhile, Merrigum maestro Breanna Baker took out the A-grade netball competition’s top honour.
The Bulldogs star took out the Rita Warren medal with 26 votes ahead of Tallygaroopna’s Bree Giles (23 votes) and Shepparton East’s Lauren James (20), capping off a strong season that helped Merrigum back to finals.
Baker also earned a place in the A-grade Team of the Year at wing defence.
The league’s rising stars were also recognised, with Violet Town’s Koby Ross and Nagambie’s Holly Carmichael the recipients.
“It was a fantastic night where representatives from each of our member clubs came together to celebrate the league’s best-and-fairest as well as our various award winners,” KDL president Peter Cordy said.
“We were also pleased to announce our Team of the Year for both football and netball.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank league partners the GV Hotel for hosting us, all our club volunteers, club executives and committees, players, community members, our valued partners and AFL Goulburn Murray for their assistance in putting this evening together.”
KDL Football Team of the Year
FB: Brett Smith (Stanhope), Joe Jackson (Girgarre), Mark Nolan (Nagambie)
HB: Chayse Thomson (Avenel), Jeremy Lambden (Rushworth), Brayden Hall (Merrigum)
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