Golden Whistle: Marcus Adams (umpires award)
Marcus was awarded the prestigious Golden Whistle award to acknowledge his development as an umpire in 2009. Marcus observed, assessed and provided feedback to less experienced umpires including extensive assistance provided to our green shirt umpires. He displayed a real 'team first' attitude in his acceptance of all appointments especially during finals series. On a number of occasions throughout the season Marcus put the VWFL first by making himself available to umpire at short notice and he embraced and exemplified pre season advise directly relating to expected behaviour whilst representing the VWFL.
Best 1st year player: Florence Francis – Braybrook
Sixteen-year-old Florence is a first year player in the true sense of the word never having played the game competitively at any level until 2009. Florence plays other sports including basketball & athletics and she has played soccer & netball. Attributes that Florence possesses include speed, agility, a great set of hand and courage. Florence is a ferocious tackler and a quick learner starting from scratch this year and now being a prime mover of the Braybrook on ball department.
Florence was born overseas in the Congo moving to Australia when she was eight years old. Florence has already generated considerable media interest and finished third in the VWFL North West Best & Fairest Kate Lawrence medal in 2009. Congratulations to Florence Francis, a very worthy winner of the best first year player award.
Ann Rulton volunteer of the year award: John Marshall - North Ballarat
John Marshall has been instrumental in transforming the North Ballarat women’s football team in 2009. John’s influence has spread both on and off the field. John is the coach of North Ballarat coach and also the Vice President of the club. John has been responsible for growth of his team in terms of numbers & awareness. John has also been responsible for promoting his team and the VWFL brand across the strong Ballarat football community through both media and committee involvement with the North Ballarat Roosters and North city board.
What the nomination from North Ballarat women’s team said:
“John has contributed significantly to the growth of women’s football in the Ballarat region. He has provided leadership at a number of levels and has gained involvement in the game from many sources of the football community within Ballarat and surrounding areas. John has contributed a significant amount of his own money and a lot of his time into developing both the club and the game.”
LIFE MEMBER: Bronwyn McGorlick - Melbourne Uni
Bronwyn McGorlick first started playing in the VWFL in 1998 and she had played 169 games primarily in Premier division. Bronwyn is a club committee member and has been on the committee for more than a decade with six years as club president. Positions Bronwyn has held at Melbourne Uni include club delegate, president, vice president, vice president, media officer, operations manager and Youth Girls coach. Bronwyn has also been a member of the VWFL rules committee and has held the position as selector in 2007 VWFL Country – Metro, 2007 Victorian state squad, 2007 Youth Girls inter league and 2008 Youth Girls state squad. Bronwyn is a life member of the Melbourne Uni women’s football club.
Some of what the nomination from Melbourne University said:
“Bronwyn has spent a decade of her life on the Melb Uni women’s football club committee devoting countless time to administering and improving the club. Bronwyn is responsible for completing the hidden work around the club putting much effort into the thankless tasks that help to improve and grow the club and women’s football in general.
Bronwyn has brought great ideas and innovation to her roles over the last decade. She was the driving force behind initiatives including the incorporation of the club with consumer affairs. Bronwyn is very generous with her time devoting many hours each week to ensuring the club is moving forward.”
LIFE MEMBER: Leesa Catto – VWFL
Leesa Catto joined the VWFL in 2000 when she first played in the competition at the East Geelong Football Club. Leesa was Captain at East Geelong and played fifty- one games before a move to Melbourne saw her play twelve games at St Kilda before hanging up the boots at the end of 2005. Leesa Catto has not worn the Big V or played 100 games, her impact has been made off the field.
Leesa was the EGFC club delegate from 2001 to 2003 before joining the VWFL Executive in the Administration position mid way through 2003. Leesa is a current Executive member and has held a number of roles including Administration, Sponsorship & Media. It is in the media role that Leesa has had a major impact on the VWFL as her efforts, persistence and endless hard work have significantly lifted the profile of the VWFL.Leesa has developed strong relationships with journalists and media organisations across Victoria and media coverage has sky rocketed since she started in this role. Leesa has also developed the VWFL website to the point where it is now having more than 100,000 hits per month.
Some of what the nomination from the VWFL said;
“Leesa has made a very significant contribution to the VWFL and to the game of women’s football.”
LEADING GOAL KICKER ALL DIVISIONS - ROHENNA YOUNG MEDAL
NORTH WEST: Emma Kent, North Ballarat – 42 goals
A strong target up forward who is a proven goal kicker.
SOUTH EAST: Mel Kuys, Scoresby – 34 goals
Took off the goal kicking, B&F and a premiership in a big year.
RESERVES: Rebecca Hickmott, Darebin – 39 goals
Took off the goal kicking, B&F and a premiership in a big year.
PREMIER: Brittany Grech, Diamond Creek – 58 goals
A 16-year-old sensation who took premier division by storm in 2009.
100 GAME MILESTONE AWARD
DAREBIN FALCONS: Candice Robson, Rebecca Hickmott, and Aliesha McLean
DIAMOND CREEK DEMONS: Melynda Dawson
EAST BURWOOD DEVILS: Lou Wotton, Tracey Ashley, and Michelle Aurisch
GEELONG PANTHERS: Kelley Reville, Prue Morrison
LALOR PARK STARS: Erin Gooding & Rebecca Davis
MELB UNI MUGARS: Kate Francis, Michelle Dench, Sarah James, and Emma Phillips
MELTON CENTRALS: Janelle Martin
ST KILDA SHARKS: Liz Contini
VU ST ALBANS SPURS: Rebecca Sadler
150 GAME MILESTONE AWARD
DAREBIN FALCONS: Kristy Carbis & Kathy Zacharopoulos
MELBOURNE UNI MUGARS: Clare Woodhouse & Chyloe Kurdas
ST KILDA SHARKS: Anna Carruthers
BEST & FAIREST NORTH WEST & SOUTH EAST - KATE LAWRENCE MEDAL
NORTH WEST: Alana Tully - Geelong & Belinda Hately - Melton
Alana Tully - Geelong
The youngest of all VWFL Best & Fairest award winners in 2009, Alana is sixteen years old and she has played twenty- four games in the VWFL to date. Prior to joining the VWFL Alana had an extensive career playing junior football in the Geelong area. Alana plays on the ball and was a member of the inaugural VWFL academy in 2009. Alana has a big left foot and is a while small in stature she is pocket dynamo.
Alana polled votes in seven games and despite Geelong only winning two games in 2009 Alana was voted as best on ground on four occasions.
Belinda Hateley – Melton
Twenty-seven year old Belinda has played twenty-nine games in the VWFL primarily in the ruck. Belinda was a member of the inaugural 2009 VWFL academy and was selected to represent Victoria in Perth in the AFL National Championships in June. Belinda is a personal trainer and her own fitness is a strength as she can run and compete all day.
Belinda polled votes in six games including four best on ground performances.
SOUTH EAST: Mel Kuys - Scoresby - 21 years old
Twenty-one year old Mel Kuys has already had a football career most people can only dream of. Mel has played in two premierships with Scoresby and one with Eastern Gully. Mel who is a chef has played one hundred and twenty seven games with three clubs in the VWFL primarily on the ball after playing a lot of junior football. Mel was a member of the inaugural 2009 VWFL academy and is very recognisable on the ground with her trademark headband and big left foot. Mel capped off a remarkable year by winning a premiership, the Rohenna Young medal as the South East leading goal kicker and the Kate Lawrence medal for the best & fairest.
In a mark of her consistency Mel polled votes in eleven out of fourteen games in 2009.
BEST & FAIREST RESERVES - FRASER GRIFFITHS MEDAL
Rebecca Hickmott – Darebin
Thirty seven year old Rebecca has played one hundred and six games in the VWFL. Rebecca is a multiple premiership player with the Darebin Falcons and she capped off a remarkable year by winning the premiership, the Rohenna Young medal as the Reserves leading goal kicker and the Fraser Griffiths medal for the best & fairest player in the competition.
Rebecca polled votes in six games with four best on ground performances.
BEST & FAIREST PREMIER SENIORS - HELEN LAMBERT MEDAL
Daisy Pearce - Darebin
Twenty one year old Daisy Pearce continues to take all before her in a football career already littered with awards and accolades. Daisy started her football career in the juniors at Bright before embarking on a volleyball career where she played at state level and looked destined for greater things. However Daisy’s love was always footy and once she joined the VWFL she never looked back, Daisy has now played seventy-one games in the competition.
Daisy was awarded the best first year player award in 2005 and she has gone onto to be a four time premiership player, a club and Victorian U19 captain and leader in the Victorian senior team. Daisy who is studying to be a mid wife also harbours an ambition to become a football commentator.
Daisy polled votes in ten out of fourteen games and in a measure of her dominance she polled three votes on seven occasions.
Last Modified on 24/03/2010 10:09