Hillwood Sharks Celebrate 2025 Best & Fairest Winners
- The Shark
- Aug 28
- 2 min read
The Hillwood Sharks celebrated another fantastic season on Saturday 16th August with the annual Best & Fairest count, recognising the club’s standout performers across the Senior Men, Women, and Reserves teams. With nail-biting finishes, record votes and milestone moments, the evening highlighted the talent and commitment of players across all grades.
Senior Men’s Best & Fairest
Winner: Hamish Leedham (92 votes)
In a dominant display of consistency and leadership, senior captain Hamish Leedham claimed the 2025 Best & Fairest with 92 votes. Playing in the ruck, Leedham polled in every one of his 15 games, showcasing his impact across the season. The award is his second after winning in 2022, adding to runner-up finishes in 2023 and 2024.
Hamish gives his all every game. He’s been incredible again this year.
Just five votes behind was midfielder Isaac Thompson (87 votes), who polled in 14 of his 16 games. An untimely injury early in the final round may have cost him the chance to make it three in a row.
Rounding out the top five were young defender Harison Edwards (47 votes), who continues to improve as a key backman at just 20 years of age, senior coach and three-time winner Jake Pearce (41 votes), and exciting first-year Shark Jaidyn Harris (35 votes), who impressed with his toughness across defence and midfield.
Women’s Best & Fairest
Winner: Síofra “Chief” Clarke (84 votes)
In one of the closest finishes in recent memory, Síofra Clarke claimed her first Best & Fairest by just one vote, finishing on 84. "Chief" capped off her fourth season with the Sharks by polling in every game she played (13), and fittingly sealed victory with a single vote on the final card. After three consecutive top-five finishes, this was her breakthrough year.
Hot on her heels was dual winner Sian Beeton (83 votes), who polled in all 14 games, just one vote away from equalling the club record (both Men & Women teams) of three Best & Fairest medals. Remarkably, Sian has finished in the top two every season since the women’s side was established in 2021.
Coach and 2023 winner Halle Pearce (51 votes) led from the front again, finishing third, followed by last year’s runner-up Jessica Murphy (50 votes). The top five was rounded out by second-year players Charlie Giddins (33 votes) and Georgia Rowley (33 votes), who both backed up impressive debut seasons with another strong year.
Reserves Best & Fairest
Winner: Sam Scott (111 votes)
The Reserves count was a runaway result, with veteran Sam Scott storming home to win with a remarkable 111 votes, one of the highest tallies in recent club history. Scott, who made his Sharks debut in 2012, polled in all 15 games he played and set the standard with his toughness and consistency across the season.
Reserves coach Luke Reardon (53 votes) claimed the runner-up medal, his second after also finishing second in 2022.
Last year’s winner Matthew Bennett (24 votes) managed another top-three finish despite playing only six games. Newcomer Christopher Watson (22 votes) impressed in his debut season, while Nick Bennett (21 votes) rounded out the top five in another strong effort despite limited appearances.
