Mathew O’DWYER is the first of the wildcard nominations for the Mooroopna Golf Club Rising Star Award.
The gotafe GVFL’s 12 clubs have each nominated a rising star for the award which will be announced at the Morrison Medal count on Monday, September 15, at the Sir Ian McLennan Centre at Mooroopna. There will be six wildcard nominations to go before the judging panel along with the club nominations.
The 20-year-old midfielder is an apprentice at Creative Wooden Ideas and a remarkable story of survival.
In late 2012 while studying for his VCE, Mat started to experience pain in his abdomen which was put down to stress, however, after three months of pain, he was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.
In February 2013, Mat’s pain was so bad he was having trouble walking and was eventually flown to Epworth Hospital where he had a bowel resection, which involved removal of 10 cm of bowel. He was hospitalised for two weeks, missed playing in the practice matches and after six weeks of recovery taking him up to Easter last year was allowed to play after missing the first three games of the season.
He played the remainder of the games, including winning the grand final and was named the best first year reserves player by coach, Chris Keady. Mat played the first six games of this season in the Magoos and the next five in the seniors, celebrating his birthday with a win against Rochester on July 5.
Mat, who is 178cm and 62kg, said he had found the pace quicker in the seniors and bigger bodies had to be contended with while co-coach, Tim LOOBY, captain Ryan BUTLER, Justin DAVIES and Paul CURRIE had given him a lot of encouragement.
He said the co-coaching concept at the Demons with former premiership player, Geoff HALL, working with LOOBY had been successful and enjoyable.
Mathew, who is the son of Shepparton United secretary, Sharon O’DWYER, and husband, Peter, who is football operations manager for the Demons, has an elder brother, Josh, who plays for Geelong West while his 22 year old sister, Kate, is a Demon supporter.
Other rising star nominations at this stage of the season are Nick SNEYD (United), Rhys McKENZIE (Mooroopna), Patrick O’SULLIVAN (Shepparton), Henry PENI (Swans), Nate TROTTER (Euroa), Richard TONIZZO (Echua), Billy COX (Seymour), Kyle MUELLER (Kyabram), Charlie MORRISON (Benalla), Matt PALMER (Rochester), Lachie CHRISTOPHER (Mansfield) and Sean MARTIN (Tatura).
Last Modified on 28/03/2015 18:52