Koroit's Dallas Mooney voted the Hampden league's best defender by readers

A poll, which attracted more than 600 votes, named Koroit's rebound king Dallas Mooney as the league's best defender of the past five seasons.

The skilled defender was a clear winner, collecting 23.76 per cent of votes, ahead of teammate Tim McPherson, who had 10.56 per cent of votes.

Port Fairy star Matt Sully was in third, just edging out former Seagull Sam Rudolph. South Warrnambool's Harry Lee rounded out the top five.

Terang Mortlake's Chris Baxter was in sixth, North Warrnambool Eagles' duo Darcy Keast (seventh) and Tom Batten and Cobden's Paul Hinkley (eighth) followed just behind.

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Warrnambool's Will Jacobs was next and Portland's Jake Wilson and South Warrnambool's Hugh Clancy, who both had 19 votes, rounded out the top 10.

In the past five seasons Mooney has built a resume that would be the envy of any player in the competition.

The six-time premiership player, who prides himself on his rebounding skills, collected five of his winner's medals during that period.

The 198-game veteran, who didn't play a full year of senior football until he was 22, has represented the Hampden interleague side on four occasions, including as vice-captain in 2019.

Mooney has also been part of the Saints' leadership group for the past four seasons.

The humble 30-year-old, who works as an accountant away from footy, said it was good to be recognised by the fans but thought fellow premiership defender McPherson was going to edge him out.

"He is just an unreal, no nonsense backman," he said.

"I thought he would knock me off the list. He was saying to me I might have been clearing my cookies and voting for myself again and again because he recons he deserved the win and I feel he is not wrong."

Premiership coach Chris McLaren is one of Mooney's biggest admirers and praised the road the right-footer has taken.

"One of the main things is he didn't come in early and played a lot of reserves footy at start of his career," he said.

"He has become an exceptionally good player through hard work and how much he has put into the game.

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"He has had to work hard compared to some others, who have been good players at 17-18 but Dallas has worked hard to get to where he is.

"He also spent a lot of time out of position as a key defender and he is not quite built for that. Then through hard work and getting fitter he has become one of the best offensive defenders in the comp."

McLaren said Mooney's ability to turn defence into attack and his reading of the play were two of his strengths.

"His ability to rebound and be offensive for sure and he probably is really quick to identify when his opponent can't get the ball and get in to a position to win it," he said.

"His intercept marking as well. There is not many flaws in his game."

McLaren was also full of praise for Tim McPherson, another of the Saints' key stoppers.

"He would be one of the hardest players to play on in terms of his role and with the discipline he shows," he said.

"I cannot remember seeing him having three or four goals kicked on him in a game since he has been with us.

"He has played on some very good players deep at full-back and he is very rarely beaten and is very disciplined and really good at not allowing forward to get good body position.

"His craft is something that he works really hard at and it is no surprise why he is a good player."

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