Upwey Tecoma big man Tom Hedge topped the votes for his ruck work and ability to push forward and be a daunting target.

"It's a great honour. At 32 I don't think I'm the best out there," Hedge said.

"I'm 200cm, can play forward and in the ruck. I think I'm just hard to match up on because of my height."

Belgrave spearhead Mitch Collins, who kicked 135 goals last season, came in second while ever green ball winner and Gembrook Cockatoo coach Ricky Clark came in third.

Daniel Ward, Monbulk

3: Brendan Sneddon, Woori Yallock

2: Daniel Waters, Upwey Tecoma

1: Michael Fowkes, Wandin

"You need a good forward to win finals and it's no coincidence the top three teams have good, key forwards.

"Fowkes kicked nine then 10 on us, Waters kicked seven and Sneddon kicked a bag. Sneddon impressed me the most because of his work rate, he ran the legs off our backline."

Greg Spence, Upwey Tecoma

3: Mitch Collins, Belgrave.

2: Ricky Clark, Gembrook Cockatoo

1: Mitch Bonuda, Woori Yallock

"Collins is big and strong and his proven ability to win games single-handedly is of huge importance to his side. Clark is a proven, versatile, relentless worker who has great skills and leads from the front. Bonuda can play forward or back. He's rarely beaten in the air, has a good work ethic and is a future leader of the club."

Jarrod Bayliss, Wandin

3: Tom Hedge, Upwey Tecoma

2: Evan Hocking, Wandin

1: Michael Fowkes, Wandin

"Hedge has an unbelievable talent around goals to take marks and win games off his own boot and at the same time go into the ruck and influence the game when needed.

Hocking would have to be one of the best defenders in the comp, if not the best. He reads the footy unbelievably and consistently has the game on his terms.

Fowkes has been a massive inclusion into the league and is a hard man to stop on any day. He's one of the few players that can take big, pack marks and win games off his own boot."

Ben Collins, Belgrave

3: Mitch Collins, Belgrave

2: Owen Millwood, Olinda Ferny Creek

1: Ricky Clark, Gembrook Cockatoo

"We won a flag and got into Division 1 off the back of Mitch last year. I think he has the most impact in the league. When he is up and about no one in the league can beat him.

Owen is one of the best ruckmen I've seen in local footy.

Ricky has played a lot of good footy over the years. He won the league medal last year and he mightn't be at his best now but he is still influential."

Josh Taylor, Emerald

3: Steven Gough, Gembrook Cockatoo

2: Ricky Clark, Gembrook Cockatoo

1: Tom Stubley, Belgrave

"Goughy smashes us every time we play them. He gives Gembrook a good lead up target and his work rate is sensational. Without Ricky and Gough, Gembrook aren't as good. Stubley's run and creativity off half back is amazing. His ball use is also outstanding."

Ricky Clark, Gembrook Cockatoo

3: Russell Cowan, Mount Evelyn

2: Steven Gough, Gembrook Cockatoo

1: Jarrod Bayliss, Wandin

"Russell's really hard at the ball but also super quick with great skills. He wins his own footy but they use him as a link up. He's hard to go with and put a tag on and he gets to the right spots.

Goughy goes under the radar a bit. He's super fit and has great endurance for a big bloke.

Most centre half backs can't go with him all day, he wears them down and get on top. He also plays right up the ground and has great hands.

I just think Bayliss is a great all-round player. What impresses me is that he changes games by himself and in the process gets his team mates up."

Danny Ryan, Woori Yallock

3: Chad Davis, Upwey Tecoma

2: Sam Gooley, Upwey Tecoma

1: Tom Hedge, Upwey Tecoma

"Chad's just a classy, strong player. He's played a good level before and is someone you need to shut down to shut down Upwey.

"Sam is a very hard match up, someone who moves well for a big guy and Tom, well he's just a really hard player to man up."

Brendan Woods, Warburton Millgrove

3: Tom Hedge, Upwey Tecoma

2: Russell Cowan, Mount Evelyn

1: Mitch Bonuda, Woori Yallock

"Hedge is 6'8, does the job in the ruck, goes forward and kicks goals. Any side with him in it would be a big chance. Cowan's a classy little rover who uses the ball well and kicks goals. Bonuda is a very, very good user of the footy. He is a solid back who can also kick goals."

Brian Chamberlain, Mount Evelyn

3: Craig Clarke, Gembrook Cockatoo

2: Nick Tennant, Woori Yallock

1: Anthony Witkowski, Woori Yallock

"Clarke is so important because he's so big, hard to match up on when he goes forward and he gives their midfielders first use.

Tennant is an older, smarter head and Witkowski sets them up well, uses the ball so well. When they are both up and going Woori are hard to beat."

Peter Brown, Olinda Ferny Creek

3: Josh Taylor, Emerald

2: Daniel Waters, Upwey Tecoma

1: Mitchell Bonuda, Woori Yallock

"Taylor is simply a general. He's taken Emerald from Division 2 to 1 and leads by example. Waters is only a young kid but a dead eye dick kick on goal and he takes a good catch.

You try and tag Bonuda and he still get a lot of touches, but he doesn't get cheap possessions."

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