On a cold night in November, the Demons celebrated their team and individual successes in 2012.
The Division 1 men played a good season full of potential. Unfortunately, an early season Hamilton loss was the difference maker in pushing the Cats into the playoffs instead. At the end of the season, the Dees had a chance but were done in by a round cancellation at the end of the season and denied another premiership title chance.
Our Division 2 side had a very successful year making it to the Grand Final. Relying on a fair number of veterans with some young talent thrown in, the Dees showed well but fell short to the Hawks.
The High Park women had a massive achievement playing an undefeated season and winning the premiership title. This is particularly impressive since the league is improving from year to year and the standard of play has improved incredibly. Ottawa, Hamilton and Etobicoke were fierce competitors in the finals.
Overall, the Demons looked forward to a strong 2013, enjoyed the party and celebrated the successes of their teammates.
The following Demons were recognized for their contributions to a very good season:
Clubman of the Year: Darren Powell
Dazza started in the club in late 2011 and is already a legend. He made huge contributions to the social program in 2012 and in the Division 2 side he showed leadership and pace. He attended social events to have some fun and enjoy the club before being asked to strap on the boots and give it a go. An Aussie without footy experience, he proved himself a legend on the field even if he would deny it.
Best and Fairest 2012 - Division 1 Men: Tom Stapleton
Mr. Stapleton was our best backman by a good measure. Young Tom was a presence who roved the pack as well as the Demons have seen in years. He handled the ball with poise and skill to remove it from the backline and usually deliver to a midfielder’s chest. He was a key defender and stole a ton of goals from his opposition in his season of work.
Best and Fairest 2012 - Division 2 Men: Bart Harney
In 2012, the Demon’s Division 2 side was in its second full year. Bart came on board and took a leadership role immediately. He would help his teammates get organized pre-game and then proceed to run all day through the guts and on the wing. His fitness, speed and skill with the ball out matched his opponents and game him plenty of running room.
Best and Fairest 2012 - Women: Erin Loughnane
In 2011, Erin was the second best female footballer in the world. In 2012, she was absolutely our best player. A fierce competitor and the nicest person you could ever meet, our best and fairest proved the best of both words.
Rookie of the Year 2012 - Division 1 & 2 Men: Willard Wilson
The Wilson brothers are stalwarts of the Demons at every game and social event. Willard, a friend of the club for years, finally made his on-field appearance in 2012. His commitment to the club and the goals he kicked from the forward pocket in Div 1 and 2 made this an easy selection.
Rookie of the Year 2012 - Women: Fiona Roarty
Fiona was the rookie of the year for the impact that she had on the field on each and every defensive play. A rock at full back, Fiona dominated her opponent, controlled the ball and pushed it back into the midfield over and over again.
Rob Vallance Award 2012 - Division 1 Men: Paul Loughnane
The Rob Vallance awards, also known as the toughest player award, was well earned by Paul. Playing injured and still beating his man by a fair ways, Paul was consistently excellent throughout the season. I’d be amiss if I didn’t mention his ability to spin away from tackles, spin his way towards tackles and magically throwing in a turn as he ran down the field.
Rob Vallance Award 2012 - Women: Natalia Champagnie
The most tenacious player in 2012 was Natalia Champagnie. She was a dominant physical presence in defense, shepherding her opposition to protect her teammates and winning the ball on the ground. Always encouraging her teammates and a very vocal presence on and off the field, Nat’s presence was tenacity itself.
Coach’s Award 2012 - Division 1 Men: Rodney Ireland
Rodney Ireland was awarded the Coach’s award for his commitment to the club on the field. Game in and out he did the hard work of roving the centre and the wing. He did the little things that make coaches happy like throwing a shepherd for an onballer or having a word to players that get too aggressive with his teammates.
Coach’s Award 2012 - Women: Megan Dietrich
One of the most valuable players on the field, Megan did the hard work that was asked of her and did it very, very well. She attached herself to the opposition’s best player, made the game easier for everyone else and won the game from the trenches. Heady defensive play in the Grand Final earned her team a dozen extra possessions to help in the win.
Most Improved Player 2012 - Division 1 Men: Deshaun Tinglin
The reason why Deshaun was the most improved player on this team is due to his commitment to learning a new position. There were several games where Deshaun played very well as an onballer. He used his speed to gather the ball and move it through the centre of the ground. Once this young man learns the bounce (which is in progress), he will be a deadly running option through the middle.
Most Improved Player 2012 - Women: Victoria Valaitis
Victoria was a rookie in 2012 and truly worked for this award. She constantly tried to improve her skills at every opportunity. Always at practice working hard and learning the game, “V” showed her improvement on the field with very good skills, awesome fitness and a knack for knowing where to be at the right time.
Last Modified on 11/02/2014 16:40