Rookie of the year – July
April Bethune
Drouin NC
Drouin Juniors
A Grade games - 26
Bethune is one of the league brightest young talents. A tall defender that has also been used in goals, Bethune has established herself as an A Grade defender while still being eligible for the 17 & Under competition. Bethune was a member of the 2016 Drouin A Grade premiership side. She was also a starting member of the Drouin team that competed and finished runner up in the Netball Victoria League Club Challenge earlier in 2017.
A member of both the TRFM Gippsland League senior and 17 & Under interleague squads that took on Yarra Ranges in May , Bethune was given the best on court medal in the 17 & Under’s 30-18 win over the hosts.
Ricky Tatnell
Bairnsdale FNC
Lucknow Junior FC
Senior Games: 19
Tatnell has featured regularly at senior level for Bairnsdale this season. Making his senior debut for the Red Legs last season Tatnell managed to play six games but 2017 has seen himself established as a regular in the side despite still being eligible for Thirds football. A member of the 2016 Bairnsdale FNC Thirds premiership side he also featured for Gippsland Power in the V/Line Cup 2014 Division 1 - Under 15's.
Tatnell starred at the Evans Petroleum Cup for TRFM Gippsland League in July named in the best 6 in all four games including a BOG performance against NGFNL and two second best efforts against MGFL and WGFNC. Tatnell continued this form at senior level where he managed a goal every game in July, finishing with 6 for the month.
Rookie of the year – August
Jenny Wrigglesworth
Sale FNC
Sale Juniors
A Grade games- 15
At age 14 Wrigglesworth is one of the league’s best shooting prospects. Despite being eligible for Under 15s Wrigglesworth has played 15 games in the A Grade side in 2017 where she has shot 291 goals. Including a 40 goals performance against Warragul in round 14 , 38 against Bairnsdale in round 17 and 31 against top 5 side Leongatha in round 7.
Wrigglesworth is one of several promising talents to come out of Sale’s junior ranks. She spearheaded the Sale FNC 13 & Under premiership sides from 2016 & 2015. Her talents are also being seen at TRFM Gippsland League representative level where she was part of the championship winning 15 & Under side.
James De Virgillio
Moe FNC
Moe Juniors
Senior games: 16
Another one of Moe’s exceptional juniors coming through and making an impact at senior level. De Virgilio is in his first full year of senior football but fits in like a veteran. He captained the 2014 Moe fourth premiership, where he was also a representative for TRFM Gippsland League at the Evans Petroleum Cup.
A versatile utility De Virgilio spends most his time through the forward line and midfield but can also play half back “He is a contested bull, he loves the hard footy’ says coach James Blaser. Named best on ground in the round 13 win over Drouin . Round 6 kicked 3 goals and named second best against Sale. De Virgilio has played 15 senior games this year and kicked 7 goals, baring injury he looks set to take his place in the senior finals series as Moe enter their first finals campaign since 2009.
Last Modified on 25/08/2017 13:15
