While John Baird took home the Frank Johnson Medal for the best Victorian in the State game versus TSL, Frankston’s Leigh Osborne was given the honour of being the best player selected by the Tasmanian coaching staff at the end of Saturday’s game.
For a player in his first year of Peter Jackson VFL football, the previously unknown Dolphin half back has now had his name and skills highlighted by his performance in the Big V jumper.
The 22 year old former East Ringwood player from the Eastern Football League was surprised to be selected as the best by Tasmania in the State game.
“It was a bit of a shock to be honest.
“A lot of our mids played really well, but I will take the honour.”
Watched by his dad, brother and a few close friends who all flew down to Hobart to watch the match, Osborne impressed with 25 possessions off half back.
The State game selection was a highlight for the young Dolphin, playing in the same side as some of the best the VFL has to offer, and he hopes to learn from the experience.
“It was awesome.
“The whole experience of training during the week with players I have played against, then flying down for the weekend was a great experience,” Osborne said.
“We (himself and Frankston teammates Kyle Martin and Khan Haretuku) will go back during the week and take the little bits and pieces that we learned from the Victorian team to Frankston as well.”
VFL assistant coach, and Frankston senior coach, Simon Goosey was impressed by the performances of his three State team representatives, but especially by Osborne who was unknown to the Frankston hierarchy before he landed at one of their preseason training sessions.
“From where he has come from – he basically walked in off the street back in November and I said we would have look at how he went for the night, and see whether we would invite him back or not - to playing for Victoria is a great honour for him.
“He is a kid that doesn’t let anything get to his head, he is still the happy go lucky type of bloke,” Goosey said.
“The performance in the State game is the same as he has been doing each week without much fuss. The great thing about it is that he enjoys his football, and you can see the smile on his face he loves the game.”
Osborne is just one on a number of young developing players Goosey has on his list at Frankston, and with Kyle Martin (16 possessions, 2 goals) and Khan Haretuku (four goals and five marks inside 50) also impressing, things might be looking up for the Dolphins.
“I think we have one of the best young lists in the competition, all we lack is experience. If we get experience into these kids, it will soon turn and we will be a very good side.”
Last Modified on 31/05/2012 16:14