By KRISTEN ALEBAKIS
MORE than 470 guests attended the Western Region Football League Junior Presentation Night on Wednesday.
Held at the Wyndham Cultural Centre, players, coaches, officials and family members gathered to celebrate the achievements of the league’s young guns.
Best and Fairest awards were handed out, while premiership captains and coaches were presented with their cups on stage.
The best players of the WRFL’s Junior Interleague program were also recognised for their efforts in this year’s AFL Victoria Junior Metro Championships.
The special guest on the night was Western Bulldogs director of football and Spotswood premiership coach Chris Grant.
Grant spoke to guests about the Bulldogs’ finals preparations and about the pathway young girls now have to reach the elite level.
The first awards of the night were then presented by AFL Victoria Football Development managers Tom Delahunty and Nish Moses to the Junior and Youth Coaches of the Year.
The Junior Coach of the Year was Robert Green from the Flemington Juniors Football Club and the Youth Coach of the Year was Darren Ryan from the Williamstown Juniors Football Club.
In the Under-11 West division, Diesel Moloney and Jayden Smithers shared the Best and Fairest honours. The talented pair finished on 23 votes a piece.
Caroline Springs youngster Oliver Murray claimed the Under-11 West award. He was four votes clear of runners-up Spencer Wray and Jake Smith.
In what was one of the moments of the night, Monique Gavriliadis from the Tarneit Football Club claimed the Under-12C best and fairest award.
Monique polled 27 votes. This award goes with her best on ground medal she recieved from the Grand Final.
Yusuf Kailie from the Sunshine Heights Football Club was announced as the Under-12B award winner. He was 10 votes clear of the second placegetter.
Thomas Lowrie had a season to remember in the Under-12A competition. After claiming the premiership title with a win over Williamstown Juniors, he also won the league best and fairest medal.
The 2016 Under-12 Girls Premiership was won by Aberfeldie, but despite no premiership cup presented on the night, the league still acknowledged the highest polling WRFL players in the competition.
A large number of girls across all teams were awarded votes and the two players from Flemington Juniors who led the way were Kowsar Abdi and Sumeya Ahmed.
Albion junior Joel Diaz capped off his standout season by claiming the Under-13C Best and Fairest.
Hoppers Crossing star Slade Ludolff won the Under-13B award on 32 votes.
Ludolff also captained his side to premiership glory earlier this month.
Williamstown Juniors player Kai Coghlan won the Under-13A best and fairest award.
Flemington Juniors youngster Desmond Tipuamantumirri polled 15 votes to win the Under-14C award.
Nash Reynolds from Wyndhamvale was the clear standout in the Under-14B competition. The talented young star polled 30 votes in 2016, 13 ahead of nearest rival Jai Haines from Altona Juniors.
Caroline Springs junior Oscar Gordon was rewarded for his efforts this season, by winning the Under-14A Best and Fairest award.
Gordon won by a single vote, with Eagles star Eddie Ford coming in, in second place.
Ethan Bentley capped off an impressive season, winning the Under-15B Best and Fairest award.
It was a close finish in the Under-15A count, with Werribee Districts young gun Mathiang Chak taking home the league award.
At the end of the count he was just one vote ahead of Sanctuary Lakes premiership player Jett Matthews.
Isabella Grant claimed the Under-15 Girls Best and Fairest award, ahead of teammate Isabelle Pritchard.
The pair both played in Spotswood incredible Grand Final win against Keilor, with Grant also named as one of the best players during the WRFL’s Junior Interleague carnival.
Werribee Districts junior Connor McIntosh won the Under-17C award, he was two votes ahead of Sunshine’s Jordan Davis.
Matteo Zoccali was named the best player in the Under-17B competition. The St Bernard’s young gun recorded 20 votes throughout the season.
He was three votes ahead of Stefan Costa from the Wyndham Suns and four votes clear of Caroline Springs premiership player Max Tessari.
In the Under-17A competition, St Bernard’s claimed back-to-back titles.
One of their star players, Marcus Holland was announced as the Best and Fairest winner. He polled 15 votes.
In the final award of the night, Deer Park’s Brodie Stevens was presented with the Under-18 Girls medal.
Wyndhamvale’s Sharnie Whiting was second, Point Cook’s Emily Gardner third, while VU Western Spurs trio Elisabeth Georgostathis, Chandra Abrahams and Taylah Searle also took home awards.
For a list of the Girls votes, click here.
For a full list of Junior votes, click here.
To see some of the images from the night, click here.
Last Modified on 26/08/2016 13:23