New faces lead way in Weissel Medal count

Tumut recruit Ron Leapai and Young captain Mitch Cornish are at the top in the Group Nine best and fairest after the first eight rounds.

With a total of 11 so far, Leapai has a one-vote lead on Cornish, who has played two more games to start the season.

Cherrypickers teammate Jayke Hogan is a further point behind in third.

Albury lock Jon Huggett sits on eight while Kangaroos forward Luke Ingram and Tumut centre Tolo Aroha-Tuinauvai round out the top five a further vote back.

A third Blues player, co-coach Lachlan Bristow, Kangaroos fullback Jake Mascini and Southcity pair Latrell Siegwalt and Luke McBeath round out the top 10 with six votes.

Former Weissel Medal winner and Tumut co-coach Zac Masters has been impressed with the impact the Country representative has had on the side.

"Ronny has been awesome for us," Masters said.

"He's got a lot of experience playing rep football and under 20s football with Canberra and has brought that over here.

"He's excelling at the moment so hopefully he can keep that up for us."

Masters and Leapai were part of the Country set up again this season.

The Blues co-coach believes the representative area helped Leapai adapt to a new role.

"He's added so much to our side, especially on that right hand edge," Masters said.

"He's not usually a back rower, he's usually a middle forward, so it's been something a little different for him but he got a bit of experience playing there for Riverina and has brought that back to club footy.

"He's been awesome and I knew we would be and that's why I got him here."

However Masters is looking to focus on winning another title with Tumut.

Meanwhile Southcity's Travis Smith is two votes clear in the reserve grade count of Young's Sam Norton.

Bulls teammate Simon Parr and Gundagai playmaker Chris Rose are a point further behind.

Brothers playmaker Madison Dunn has made a bright start to her return to lead the leaguetag count.

She is a point clear of Temora newcomer Courtney McCrone. There is then a four-vote gap to three-time winner Emily Perrot (Temora), Brooke Wiggett (Brothers) and Kangaroos pair Sophie Gaynor and Shannon Pike.

Junee's Kye Wright is two votes clear of Young's Brock Sing in the Weissel Cup count while Temora's Jed Reardon has a big lead in the Sullivan Cup tally.

Reardon is five votes clear of Kangaroos' Sam Gash.

The Young Cherrypickers will take on SouthCity this Saturday at Laurie Daley Oval with first grade kicking off at 2.35pm.