The 2024 Talent League Boys' Team of the Year has been named, while Gippsland talent Xavier Lindsay has claimed the Morrish Medal following a stellar season for the Power.
Lindsay polled 21 votes at Wednesday's count to edge out Dandenong attacker Cooper Hynes by two votes, while Calder and Essendon NGA prospect Jayden Nguyen and Oakleigh ball magnet Jagga Smith rounded out the podium with 18 votes each.
A contested ball winner who can be equally damaging as a running option in midfield or defence, Lindsay becomes the first Gippsland player to win the Morrish Medal since Alex Carr a decade ago.
Lindsay played a dozen games in the Talent League this year while sharing his duties with Vic Country and the AFL Academy, polling in eight of those appearances while averaging 23.4 disposals, 9.3 handball receives, 5.4 clearances and 5.2 inside 50s per game.
Rounds 15 to 18 saw Lindsay amass 12 votes from a possible 12 to take a needed lead before his season was brought to a close through injury.
The Leongatha product was named on the wing in the Team of the Year, slotting into a midfield spot alongside fellow first-round draft chances Levi Ashcroft, Murphy Reid, Harvey Langford and the aforementioned Smith.
Ashcroft and Reid were among a team-high five Sandringham Dragons players to be selected in the 24-player side, with teammates Harrison Oliver, Luke Trainor and Harry Armstrong also selected.
The Murray Bushrangers were the next best with four selections, with all 13 non-Academy sides represented.
Ashcroft's nod sees him as the only player to make successive selections in the Talent League Team of the Year, having been joined by Oakleigh gun Finn O'Sullivan as bottom-agers in last year's side.
20 of the 22 eligible players selected in last year's Team of the Year were drafted onto an AFL list in 2023.
Gippsland also cleaned up the Talent League Girls Best and Fairest, with Ash Centra taking out the title with 25 votes after averaging 27.1 disposals, 4.3 marks, 4.2 clearances, 4.1 tackles and 1.5 goals per game from 12 appearances.
Centra polled in 10 matches this year to take out the honour ahead of Bendigo's Lucia Painter (20 votes) and Geelong's Sarah Howley (19).
2024 Morrish Medal Leaderboard
Xavier Lindsay (Gippsland Power) 21 votes
Cooper Hynes (Dandenong Stingrays) 19
Jayden Nguyen (Calder Cannons) 18
Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers) 18
Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges) 17
Zak Johnson (Northern Knights) 16
Damon Hollow (Calder Cannons) 15
Tobie Travaglia (Bendigo Pioneers) 13
Isaac Kako (Calder Cannons) 12
Cody Anderson (Eastern Ranges) 11
Xavier Kardachi (Western Jets) 11
Harvey Langford (Dandenong Stingrays) 11
2024 Talent League Team of the Year
FB: Lachie Jacques (GF), Matt Whitlock (MB), Alixzander Tauru (GP)
HB: Tobie Travaglia (BP), Luke Trainor (SD), Harrison Oliver (SD)
C: Xavier Lindsay (GP), Levi Ashcroft (SD), Murphy Reid (SD)
HF: Joe Berry (MB), Jobe Shanahan (BP), Josh Smillie (ER)
FF: Cooper Hynes (DS), Jack Whitlock (MB), Isaac Kako (CC)
FO: Lucas Impey (WJ), Harvey Langford (DS), Jagga Smith (OC)
I/C: Harry Armstrong (SD), Lenny Douglas (TD), Ollie Hannaford (GWV), Zak Johnson (KN), Christian Moraes (ER), Josh Murphy (MB)
