The Greg Binns Memorial Medal is awarded to the best player on the ground in the Wimmera Football Netball League grand final.
Greg was the youngest child and only son of John Laurence and Nancy Binns. In early 2987 he was diagnosed with an extremely ratre blood disorder and passed away less than two weeks later. Greg has recently turned 27 and had been married for almost 2 years. A son, Matthew, was born in September 1987.
His asscociation with Jeparit Football club started with the minis at about 71/2 years of age. He came up throught the Under 16s and was fortunate enough to play in a premiership team with them. In these early teen years Greg often played two full games of football on Saturdays. A quick change of gear after the Under 16s and he was back out on the ground in the Seconds who werw astruggling to find sufficient players. Greg represented the Wimmera Football League in an Under 16 interleague team. His senior debut came at 151/2. He went on to play 98 games with the Redbacks and one with Dimboola.
Greg was capable of adapting his style of play to suit a variety of positions. A Mail Times articile (Sept. 6, 1978) refers to him as "Jeparit Football Club's brilliant half back." Gregs senior football was mostly played at centre half back and full back while his underage football was predominatley played in the forward line. When he played a second match for the day in the Seconds, he was generally positioned at full forward to reduce the running required.
From his first serious knee injury at 17, Gregs football was hampered by injury. The following seasion (1978), a year in which Jeparit has realistic premiership hopes, he badly injured the other knee during the last minutes of the elimination final. Several months after a knee reconstruction, he eagled accepted an inviation to train with Essendon after recieving clearance from his specialist to do so. Disaster struck during an Essendon practice match when a team mate fell across his legs necessitating further knee surgery. Greg managed to triumph over each setback and fought his was back to play a further 50 games with Jeparit. After standing out a full season in order to gain a clearance to Dimboola in 1985, he suffered another serious knee injury after playing just one quarter. This was to be his first and only game with Dimboola.
The attributes which would enable Greg to excel in the sporting arena were evident from an early age. His balance, anticipation and natural speed were beneficial to his performance in many sports including athletics and basketball. Exceptional eye hand coordination allowed deadly accuaracy with a shotgun. This enabled him to claim a North West Victorian Schoolboys Trapshooting Championship.
The Binns family has a long involvement with football in the Wimmera. After starting out at Tarranyurk, Jack played more than 150 games with Jeparit in a war interrupred career. Immediatley post war he declined invitations to play with serveral VFL clubs including Geelong and Melbourne, believing he was needed at home on the farm. Jack was a long term committee member, selector and player advocate for Jeparit Football Club and was a delegate to the Wimmera League for many years.
Between them, Jack and Greg had 58 years with Jeparit Football Club, largely during the time it was a real force in the Wimmera League and before the full impact of dwindling population was felt.
Gregs football history tells of a career frustrated by injury but it also demonstrates the power of self belief, the role of self motivation and need for a solid work ethic.
Previous Recipients
1990 Scott Batchelor Horsham
1991 Paul Bryne Minyip Murtoa
1992 Shane Drum Minyip Murtoa
1993 John Hotker Minyip Murtoa
1994 Gerard bibby Warracknabeal
1995 Andrew Bach Stawell
1996 Leigh Funke Minyip Murtoa
1997 Paul Byrne Minyip Murtoa
1998 Matthew Hopkins Minyip Murtoa
1999 Brad Keilar Ararat
2000 Simon Dunn Stawell
2001 Bernard Ward Horsham Saints
2002 Fraser Quick Warrack Eagles
2003 Trent Leslie Stawell
2004 Aaron Barnett Horsham
2005 Cameron Penny Horsham
2006 Scott Batchelor Horsham
2007 David Johns Horsham
2008 Aaron Barnett Horsham
2009 Terry Arnel Horsham
2010 Brad Hartigan Horsham
2011 Damien Skurrie Horsham
2012 Nick pekin Horsham
2013 Lachie Excell Dimboola
2014 Gavin Kelm Horsham Saints
2015 Sam Jasper Horsham Saints
2016 Jacob Cooke-Harrison Horsham Saints
2017 Billy Lloyd Horsham Demons
2018
2019
2020
2021
