Hampden stars shine bright at medal count

AN SOS was sent out to a North Warrnambool Eagles footballer and a Cobden netballer yesterday.Fortunately for Hampden Football Netball League officials and supporters, they answered it.Liam Ryan and Emma Beks were nowhere to be seen at the start of the league's best and fairest count but both wandered in midway through the ceremony.However, they arrived to learn they were in time for the most important part of the proceedings.When the call went out Ryan was forced to leave 400 cows in desperate need of milking to rush into Warrnambool City Memorial Bowls Club to collect the 2008 Maskell medal. The Eagle finished the count with 23 votes, seven ahead of Koroit coach Joe McLaren.With her mobile phone in Melbourne, it was hard to get in contact with Beks.Her sister tracked her down in time for the goal attack to stroll in and accept her third Hampden league A grade best and fairest award.She shared the honour with North Warrnambool's Elisha Carter, who said she was tossing up on whether to attend after thinking she had no chance at taking home the trophy.