Football
3 September, 2024
WFNL junior best and fairests crowned
On Monday, September 2, the Wimmera Football Netball League crowned their junior best and fairests, with four of the nine clubs producing winners and three separate clubs to that, claiming runner-ups in one of the most spread out and closest counts in recent years.
Nhill's Jobe Dickinson won the under-17 football best and fairest, polling 24 votes. Monty Wynne from Horsham was the runner-up, with 18 votes. Wynne's teammate, Max Bunworth, polled 22 votes, but he was suspended and ineligible.
Nhill's Jobe Dickinson won the under-17 football best and fairest, polling 24 votes. Monty Wynne from Horsham was the runner-up, with 18 votes. Wynne's teammate, Max Bunworth, polled 22 votes, but he was suspended and ineligible.
Dickinson won Nhill's under-17s best and fairest last year but said winning the league one is a highlight. At the same time, he talked about what he has improved on and what he needs to improve on as a footballer.
"It's pretty exciting. I haven't felt it before, and it feels weird, but to be able to win ahead of some good footballers is pretty good," Dickinson said.
"This year, my main improvement and focus was hitting targets and running at a higher level.
"I want to get better at goal-kicking as I have been pretty shocking in front of goal this season."
Southern Mallee Thunder's Taya Horman won the 17-and-under netball in a thrilling count, with only two votes separating the top two and four votes, the top three.
Horman polled 31 votes and won ahead of Horsham's Sienna Manserra on 29. Maddison Bethune from the Horsham Saints was third on 27 votes.
Horman plays goal defence and not only plays 17-and-under but has also played A-grade the last two years.
Horman was surprised by her win. She highlighted her improvements on the netball court this season and what she needs to work on moving forward.
"It was a surprise as I didn't expect it, as there were other strong girls that polled well and deserved their votes," Horman said.
"Playing A-grade netball has helped build improvement, and I have learned to be more resilient, and I have improved my one-on-one defence.
"I need to work on the one-percenter techniques moving forward."
Horsham's Chaz Smith was a runaway leader in the under-14 football, polling 35 votes. Dimboola's Reef Ward was runner-up on 29. Nhill's Charlie Bell polled 28 and Minyip Murtoa's Ryder Hudson, 27 in a close race for second.
Smith is a midfielder who occasionally switches into the half-back line. This is his first league best and fairest, having won a club one for Taylors Lake two years ago.
He highlighted how he improved as a footballer and what he still needs to work on.
"It feels great. As this is a league best and fairest, it's pretty special to win one," Smith said.
"This season, I have improved my smarts, such as my decision-making, and my skills have improved.
"Moving forward, I still need to improve my overall skills, such as kicking, and I look forward to improving on that and becoming a better player."
The 15-and-under netball was all about goal-shooting, with a goal attack and a goal-shooter claiming the top two spots.
Horsham Saints' Lena Marshman, playing as a goal attack, won the best and fairest award for an outstanding season, polling 44 votes out of a possible 48. She scored 297 goals in 16 games this season, a great feat for a goal attack.
The runner-up was Stawell's Ayva Mitchell, who polled 29 votes. As a goal-shooter, Mitchell has scored 361 goals in 14 games.
Horsham Saints' Ruby Bethune was a runaway winner in the 13-and-under netball. Bethune polled 43 votes and won by 13 ahead of Warracknabeal's goal defence, Piper Knorpp.
Bethune plays down back but can switch up forward and shoot goals, bringing great versatility to the team.
On the night, junior coaches of the year were also named. Horsham Saints under-14 football coach Peter Kafegellis and Southern Mallee Thunder's 13 and 17-and-under netball coach Jayne Shannon won their respective awards.
Jayne’s remarkable coaching career included leading Beulah juniors to great success and senior teams and her outstanding work with the Thunder.
Under Shannon's guidance, the 17-and-under girls have made history with the Thunder’s first-ever finals win. Together with her assistant coach, Madde, Jayne has created a supportive and inspiring culture among the junior players.
The smiles on the girls' faces after their most recent victory are a testament to the hard work and dedication Jayne has instilled in them all season.
Shannon did not expect the award and explained what she enjoys about coaching junior netball.
"I was taking in Taya's under-17s win as I came to support her tonight, and I was surprised to hear my name called out, and it's lovely to be nominated," Shannon said.
"I am a PE teacher by trade. I love netball. I love coaching and developing the girls, and I get joy from seeing them grow from junior to senior netballers.
"I enjoy the relationships you have with the girls growing up. It's fulfilling."
WFNL Chairperson Peter Ballagh said the spread of clubs winning awards and the approximately 180 people who showed up on the night were fantastic results for the league.
"It's fantastic. The competition at junior level is red hot, and it's been pleasing that the clubs have worked together, especially under the new permit system," Ballagh said.
"It's also great to see all clubs have a lot of talent, which all goes towards the future of both football and netball in Wimmera, making it strong for years to come.
"It's really good to see it's not the big city clubs dominating the awards, and the smaller country ones have a fair amount of talent."
"What the league vote count did was show there is a sprinkling of talent across the league at all levels, and you have the opportunity to perform at your best against the best, and I was pretty impressed that was the way it rolled."
"It was a great result for the league, junior football, and netball."