2024 Hayward Medal: Josh Kempton takes a look at five leading contenders

Ahead of Friday night’s Hayward Medal count, Josh Kempton takes a look at five of the leading contenders for the South West Football League’s best and fairest award. Ty Anderson (Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault) Ty Anderson will come into the count among the favourites after producing a magnificent individual campaign in his first season back with the Lions following a two-year stint with Peel Thunder in the WAFL. Having played mostly across half-forward during his time in the State league, the 24-year-old returned to a midfield role for his junior club and immediately reestablished himself as one of the competition’s best players. His trademark ability to burst away from stoppages was on full display throughout the course of the year, often leaving opponents in his wake as he darted through the middle of the ground. Anderson played only three games for HBL last year between his WAFL commitments but still managed to poll seven votes, suggesting he is always front of mind for the umpires. His hopes could rest on how many votes his midfield running mate Connor Carbone, whose influence waned in the back half of the year after a strong start, ends up taking from him. Mitch Tenardi (Busselton) Despite the Magpies’ premiership defence not going according to plan, ever-consistent midfielder Mitch Tenardi is well and truly in the hunt to win his first Hayward Medal. Tenardi has remarkably won his club’s best and fairest award for the past six years in a row — a streak which is a near-certainty to extend to seven this season — and is a proven Hayward vote-getter, having finished second and fourth in the past two counts. His game is not flashy but is built off always doing the little things right, with the star midfielder seldom making an error which would stick in the mind of an umpire. Like Anderson, Tenardi’s chances could hinge on the fortunes of one of his teammates, with off-season recruit Jozef Parkinson also likely to feature prominently in the count. The margin in these awards is often razor-thin and the one game for the year Tenardi missed — a loss to Carey Park in round 14 — may well prove decisive on the night. Mitch Bain (South Bunbury) Midfielder Mitch Bain looks to be the most prominent of undefeated minor premier South Bunbury’s hopes for the award. Bain joined the Tigers over the off-season with a proven reputation of attracting attention from umpires, having won the Prendergast Medal for the best and fairest player in the WAFL reserves competition last year. He did his best work in and under at the contest but also had an offensive impact when resting forward, kicking 17 goals for the season. The former Swan Districts star got better as the season wore on and could cause drama by being the late riser in the count, provided Anderson or Tenardi have not already run away with the medal. His hopes could be cruelled by his side’s ridiculous strength in depth — teammates Richie Bourne, Blaine Johnson and Shaun Crane all look likely to at least clear the double-digit vote mark. Kel Evans (Augusta-Margaret River) Hawks midfielder Kel Evans is in the mix to win what would be his club’s third Hayward Medal in four years after Simon Moore’s 2021 and 2022 victories. The hard-nosed midfielder does his best work under the nose of the umpires, being one of the competition’s premier contested ball-winners. His fellow on-ballers Max Spyee and Jake Rodgers will also register some votes over the course of the evening but AMR will have their share of games with all three vote-getters. It is often suggested players with a distinctive feature can pick up some extra votes in these awards and Evans fits that mould with his long blonde curly locks. Greg Humphries (Eaton) It would be unlikely for the winner of the medal to come from the competition’s last-placed side but Greg Humphries deserves some recognition after another brilliant year for the Boomers. The Eaton captain kicked 22 goals this season, going without a goal in only five games, while battling hard when deployed around the ball. If any votes are on offer for an Eaton player, the odds are they will be heading the way of Humphries, who was absent from his side’s listed best players just twice this year. Josh Kempton’s predictions 1st: Ty Anderson (Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault) 2nd: Mitch Tenardi (Busselton) 3rd: Mitch Bain (South Bunbury) Roughie: Greg Humphries (Eaton)