There are three “favourites” for the 2022 Mail Medal in the Mid South Eastern Football League which will be announced on Sunday afternoon.
Either Hatherleigh newcomer Mark Marrott, Glencoe skipper Zacc Cocks or Port MacDonnell champion Will Macdonald are tipped to grace the stage at the Millicent War Memorial Civic and Arts Centre when the senior medal counts of the Mid South Eastern football and netball competitions are held.
Marriott has impressed in the ruck in his first season in the competition as well in representative games for the SE zone team at Whyalla and with the SA Country team on Adelaide Oval.
A bout of COVID caused Marriott to miss the SE interleague carnival at Kongorong.
Marriott moved to Furner over the off-season to work for Woonallee Simmentals and the Baker Group.
The family firm sponsors the Eagles and its stud manager is Hatherleigh president Deon Chester.
The 203cm ruckman played his junior and senior football for Benalla in the strong Goulburn Valley Football League.
He also played TAC Cup football for the Murray Bushrangers and represented Victoria Country in 2018.
Last season, Marriott played for Cobden in the Hampden Football Netball League winning their best and fairest trophy.
Cocks has been a favourite of the Murphies and the umpires for the past decade.
He already has one Mail Medal in his trophy collection and a second would be remarkable.
Cocks missed the first half of the season as he took a full 12 months off in order to fully recover from a knee reconstruction.
His outstanding form has greatly assisted in the revival of the Murphies who, at one stage, were facing the possibility of a first-ever wooden spoon.
Macdonald has already become the first MSEFL player to win the Mail Medal four times.
Although he has missed a few games, he has again been the best Demon this season.
The seasiders are set to defend their premiership in the major round due to Macdonald’s efforts in the ruck, around the ground and in attack.
The other past winners of the Mail Medal who have played in the MSEFL this season are Kalangadoo duo Brett Lindner and Ben Mules, Robe’s Tom Wachtel and Hatherleigh’s Joe Ferguson-Lane.
The Port MacDonnell sporting community will be the host for the function as well as the junior Mid SE netball and football function at this venue on Sunday morning.
