2024 JH Ellers Best & Fairest

The 2024 JH Ellers Best & Fairest Awards was a night to remember, filled with laughter, heartfelt moments, and a lot of love for Glenelg Football Club. Held on October 3rd, the event brought everyone together to celebrate a season full of highlights and achievements, both on and off the field.

The evening kicked off with some incredible news from the Past Players & Officials (PP&O). Through their hard work and fundraising efforts throughout the year, they raised an impressive $80,716 for the club. It’s amazing to see how much support our past players continue to provide—truly showing the strength of the Glenelg community.

Earlier in the night, MC Terry McAuliffe was getting the crowd involved, asking for predictions on the Best & Fairest count. Board member Nick Chigwidden confidently predicted a draw—and, believe it or not, called it perfectly! It set the tone for what turned out to be an exciting finish to the count.

A more emotional moment came when we honored Matt Snook on his retirement. After a bit of nudging from Terry, Snooky took the microphone—staying true to his nature, he kept his words brief but meaningful. When he accepted his framed guernsey, the whole room stood to applaud, giving him the recognition he richly deserves for his outstanding service to the club.

In one of the lighter moments of the night, Riley Holder took to the stage after winning the Best Team Man Award—and oh boy, did he deliver! His acceptance speech clocked in at a solid 10 minutes, but had the entire room howling with laughter the whole way through. Riley’s speech showed why he’s such a valued personality both on and off the field staying true to the name of his award.

Even from Florence, Italy, Alex Martini, this year’s Stripes Award winner, was able to share his gratitude through a video message. His absence didn’t dampen the celebration, as his words were met with applause from everyone in attendance.

Celebrating the Season’s Best Throughout the night, we celebrated some of the club’s standout performers who made the 2024 season one to remember. Here are the key award winners:

• Reserves Best & Fairest: Todd Reid, a well-deserved recognition for his hard work.
• Reserves Stripes Award: Beau Symonds, showcasing his growth and potential.
• League Best First-Year Player: Ben Ridgway, making a huge impact in his debut season.
• League Most Improved (Ossie Ames Award): Hunter Window, who stepped up his game in a big way.
• Leading Goal Kicker: Liam McBean, finishing the season with an incredible 55 goals.
• ER Curnow Award: Again, Liam McBean, proving his consistency as a top player.

Special mention goes to James Bell, who took home the Snouts Louts Award for his passion and dedication, capturing what it means to be a Tiger on and off the field.

The room was buzzing with anticipation as we entered the Best & Fairest count. Going into the Grand Final, only three votes separated Matt Allen and James Bell. The tension built as the final votes were revealed, and when both finished on 266 points, the room erupted. It was an incredible moment, with everyone thrilled by the result.

When Matt Allen got up to speak, his calm, thoughtful words reflected his gratitude to his family, his partner Belle, and the football department. He spoke warmly about the club’s culture and how proud he is to be a part of it.

In contrast, James Bell’s speech was filled with raw emotion as he couldn’t hold back his tears. He touched on how much the Glenelg Football Club has become his family since he moved to Adelaide, especially as he has no immediate family in the city. His connection to the supporters, staff, and teammates was clear, and his words were deeply moving.

The night closed with a toast to our Best & Fairest winners, Matt Allen and James Bell—a perfect end to an unforgettable evening, and season. The excitement and energy in the room was palpable, and it was clear that everyone left feeling incredibly proud of what the club has achieved this season.

It was a fantastic celebration of what makes Glenelg Football Club so special—its players, its supporters, and the strong sense of community and connection that drives everything forward. Here’s to an even bigger and better 2025!